Plunkett's Energy Industry Almanac

582 Pages·1991·8.84 MB·English

by  Plunkett J.W.

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A Short Energy Glossary
Bbl: One barrel (or 42 U.S. gallons) liquid volume.

3-D Seismic Surveying: An enhancement of seismic
Bcf: One billion cubic feet.
imaging from the standard 2-dimensional view to 3-

dimensional view. Three-dimensional seismic images
Bcfe: One billion cubic feet of natural gas equivalent.
have greater resolution than previous two-

dimensional images and help delineate oil and gas
Biodiesel: A renewable fuel synthesized from soy
reservoirs hidden by complex faulting.
beans, other oil crops or animal tallow which can

substitute for petroleum diesel fuel.
4-D Seismic Surveying: Adds the dimension of time

to 3-D seismic.
Biomass: Organic nonfossil material of biological

origin constituting a renewable energy source.
Alcohol: The family name of a group of organic

chemical compounds composed of carbon, hydrogen,
Bitumen: A naturally occurring viscous mixture,
and oxygen. The series of molecules vary in chain
mainly of hydrocarbons heavier than pentane, that
length and are composed of a hydrocarbon plus a
may contain sulfur compounds and that, in its natural
hydroxyl group, CH-(CH) -OH. Alcohol includes
n occurring viscous state, is not recoverable at a
Methanol and Ethanol.
commercial rate through a well.

Alternating Current (AC): An electric current that
Bituminous Coal: Bituminous coal is the most
reverses its direction at regularly recurring intervals,
common coal. It is dense, black, often with well-
usually 50 or 60 times per second.
defined bands of bright and dull materials. Its

moisture content usually is less than 20%. It is used
Amorphous Silicon: An alloy of silica and
for generating electricity, making coke, and space
hydrogen, with a disordered, noncrystalline internal
heating.
atomic arrangement, that can be deposited in thin-

layers (a few micrometers in thickness) by a number
Black Liquor: A byproduct of the paper production
of deposition methods to produce thin-film
process that can be used as a source of energy.
photovoltaic cells on glass, metal or plastic

substrates.
Borehole: A hole resulting from the drilling (boring)

of a well.
Anthracite Coal: Anthracite, or hard coal, is the

highest rank of economically usable coal. It is jet
British Thermal Unit (Btu): The quantity of heat
black with a high luster. The moisture content
needed to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water
generally is less than 15%. It usually has a high fixed
by 1 degree Fahrenheit at or near 39.2 degrees
carbon and ash content and is low in volatile matter.
Fahrenheit.
It is a non-coking coal.

Butane: A normally gaseous straight-chain or
API: The American Petroleum Institute, a trade
branch-chain hydrocarbon, (C H ). It is extracted
4 10
association.
from natural gas or refinery gas streams. It includes

isobutane and normal butane.
ARI: Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute

Capacity Factor: The ratio of the electrical energy
Asphalt (Natural): A natural mineral pitch, tar, or
produced by a generating unit for the period of time
bitumen composed principally of hydrocarbons, a
considered to the electrical energy that could have
natural bituminous rock of dark colored
been produced at continuous full-power operation
comparatively hard and nonvolatile. Does not
during the same period.
include asphalt, bitumen, tar, etc., derived from
petroleum processing.

Barrel (Petroleum): A unit of volume equal to 42
U.S. gallons.
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Casing: A steel pipe with a large diameter which fuel and a reducing agent in smelting iron ore in a
supports the walls or sides of the borehole to prevent blast furnace.
them from caving in.
Combined Cycle: An electric generating technology
Casinghead: A fitting attached to the top of the in which electricity is produced from otherwise lost
casing in an oil or gas well which regulates the flow waste heat exiting from one or more gas
of oil or gas, allowing the pumping of oil from an oil (combustion) turbines. The exiting heat is routed to a
well. conventional boiler or to a heat recovery steam
generator for utilization by a steam turbine in the
Cast Silicon: Crystalline silicon obtained by pouring production of electricity. Such designs increase the
pure molten silicon into a vertical mold and adjusting efficiency of the electric generating unit.
the temperature gradient along the mold volume
during cooling to obtain slow, vertically-advancing Condensate (Lease): A liquid recovered from
crystallization of the silicon. The polycrystalline natural gas at the well or at small gas/oil separators in
ingot thus formed is composed of large, relatively the field. Consists primarily of pentanes and heavier
parallel, interlocking crystals. The cast ingots are hydrocarbons. Also called field condensate. Does
sawed into wafers for further fabrication into not include plant condensate.
photovoltaic cells. Cast-silicon wafers and ribbon-
silicon sheets fabricated into cells are usually referred Condensate (Plant-Petroleum): Mixture of
to as polycrystalline photovoltaic cells. hydrocarbons, mostly pentanes and heavier
hydrocarbons, recovered at natural gas liquids
Christmas Tree: Located at the top of a casing of a processing plants.
flowing oil well; this is an intricate assemblage of
pipe connections, gauges, fittings and valves/controls Conventional Thermal Electricity Generation:
which control the flow of an oil well. Electricity generated by an electric power plant using
coal, petroleum, or gas as its source of energy.
Climate Change (Greenhouse Effect): The
increasing mean global surface temperature of the Cooperative Electric Utility: An electric utility
Earth caused by gases in the atmosphere (including legally established to be owned by and operated for
carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone and the benefit of those using its services. The utility
chlorofluorocarbons). The greenhouse effect allows company will generate, transmit, and/or distribute
solar radiation to penetrate the Earth's atmosphere but supplies of electric energy to a specified area not
absorbs the infrared radiation returning to space. being serviced by another utility.

Coal: A black or brownish-black solid, combustible Crude Oil (including Lease Condensate): A
substance formed by the partial decomposition of mixture of hydrocarbons that exists in a liquid form
vegetable matter without access to air. The rank of at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface
coal, which includes anthracite, subanthracite, separating facilities. Included are lease condensate
bituminous, sub-bituminous, and lignite, is based on and liquid hydrocarbons produced from tar sands,
fixed carbon, volatile matter, coking and coking Gilsonite, and oil shale. Drip gases are also included,
properties, and heating value. Coal rank includes the but topped crude oil (residual) and other unfinished
progressive alteration, or coalification, from lignite to oils are excluded. Liquids produced at natural gas
anthracite. processing plants and mixed with crude oil are
likewise excluded where identifiable.
Coke (Coal): In general, coke is made from
bituminous coal (or blends of bituminous coals) from Depletion (Economic): The reduction in value of a
which the volatile constituents are driven off by mineral deposit as it is being depleted through
baking in an oven at temperatures as high as 2,000 production.
degrees Fahrenheit, so that the fixed carbon and ash
are fused together. Coke is hard and porous, has gray Depletion (Physical): The consumption of a mineral
submetallic luster, and is strong enough to support a deposit by production of the mineral to the point that
load of iron ore in a blast furnace. It is used both as a its deposits are no longer available.
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Deregulation: See "Regulated Business." mechanical or other means in order to accomplish
tasks.
Direct Current (DC): An electric current that flows
in a constant direction. The magnitude of the current Exempt Wholesale Generator (EWG): A nonutility
does not vary or has a slight variation. electricity generator that is not a qualifying facility
under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of
Distribution System: The portion of an electric 1978.
system that is dedicated to delivering electric energy
to an end-user. Exploratory Well: A well drilled to find and
produce oil and gas in an area previously considered
Downstream: The segment of the oil and gas unproductive, to find a new reservoir in a known
business that refers to the secondary and final phases field (i.e., one previously producing oil or gas in
of the use of production from wells. That is, the post- another reservoir), or to extend the limit of a known
well delivery of oil and gas through the pipeline to oil or gas reservoir.
the refinery and processing plants and/or to the final
customers. Downstream refers to the opposite of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC):
Upstream. (See “Upstream.”) A quasi-independent regulatory agency within the
Department of Energy having jurisdiction over
E & P: Exploration and production. (See interstate electricity sales, wholesale electricity rates,
“Upstream.”) hydro-electric licensing, natural gas pricing, oil
pipeline rates and gas pipeline certification.
Electric Power Industry: The privately, publicly,
federally and cooperatively owned electric utilities of Federal Power Act: Enacted in 1920, and amended
the United States taken as a whole. Does not include in 1935. The Act regulates licensing of non-Federal
special purpose electric facilities. hydroelectric projects, as well as the interstate
transmission of electrical energy and rates for its sale
Electric Power System: An individual electric as wholesale in interstate commerce.
power entity.
Federal Power Commission: The predecessor
Electric Utility: A corporation, person, agency, agency of the FERC. Abolished when the
authority, or other legal entity or instrumentality that Department of Energy was created.
owns and/or operates facilities within the United
States for the generation, transmission, distribution, Flat Plate Pumped: A medium-temperature solar
or sale of electric energy primarily for use by the thermal collector that typically consists of a metal
public. frame, glazing, absorbers (usually metal) and
insulation and that uses a pump liquid as the heat-
Emission: The release or discharge of a substance transfer medium. Its predominant use is in water
into the environment; generally refers to the release heating applications.
of gases or particulates into the air.
Fossil Fuel: Any naturally occurring organic fuel,
Energy Information Administration (EIA): An such as petroleum, coal and natural gas.
independent agency within the U.S. Department of
Energy that develops surveys, collects energy data, Frac: See “Fracturing.”
and does analytical and modeling analyses of energy
issues. Fracturing: A procedure by which a fluid is pumped
into a reservoir rock with great force which splits the
Energy: The capacity for doing work as measured by rock apart. This is an attempt to increase the flow of
the capability of doing work (potential energy) or the oil or gas from a well.
conversion of this capability to motion (kinetic
energy). Most of the world’s convertible energy Fuel Cells: One or more cells capable of generating
comes from fossil fuels that are burned to produce an electrical current by converting the chemical
heat that is then used as a transfer medium to energy of a fuel directly into electrical energy. Fuel
cells differ from conventional electrical cells in that
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the active materials such as fuel and oxygen are not Geothermal Plant: A plant in which the prime
contained within the cell but are supplied from mover is a steam turbine. The turbine is driven either
outside. by steam produced from hot water or by natural
steam that derives its energy from heat found in rocks
Fumarole: A vent from which steam or gases issue; or fluids at various depths beneath the surface of the
a geyser or spring that emits gases. earth. The energy is extracted by drilling and/or
pumping.
Gas Turbine: Consists typically of an axial-flow air
compressor, one or more combustion chambers, Global Warning: An increase in the near-surface
where liquid or gaseous fuel is burned and the hot temperature of the Earth. Global warning has
gases are passed to the turbine in which they expand occurred in the distant past as the result of natural
to drive the generator and are then used to run the influences, but the term is most often used to refer to
compressor. the warming predicted to occur as a result of
increased anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse
Gas Turbine Plant: A plant in which the prime gases. (See “Climate Change.”)
mover is a gas turbine.
Green Pricing: In the case of renewable electricity,
Gas Well: A well completed for the production of green pricing represents a market solution to the
natural gas from one or more gas zones or reservoirs. various problems associated with regulatory
(Wells producing both crude oil and natural gas are valuation of the nonmarket benefits of renewables.
classified as oil wells.) Green pricing programs allow electricity customers
to express their willingness to pay for renewable
Gasohol: A blend of finished motor gasoline energy development through direct payments on their
containing alcohol (generally ethanol but sometimes monthly utility bills.
methanol) at a concentration of 10% or less by
volume. Data on gasohol that has at least 2.7% Grid: The layout of an electrical distribution system.
oxygen, by weight, and is intended for sale inside
carbon monoxide nonattainment areas are included in Heat Pump: A year-round heating and air-
data on oxygenated gasoline. conditioning system employing a refrigeration cycle.
In a refrigeration cycle, a refrigerant is compressed
Generating Unit: Any combination of physically (as a liquid) and expanded (as a vapor) to absorb and
connected generators, reactors, boilers, combustion reject heat. The heat pump transfers heat to a space to
turbines or other prime movers operated together to be heated during the winter period and by reversing
produce electric power. the operation extracts (absorbs) heat from the same
space to be cooled during the summer period. The
Generation (Electricity): The process of producing refrigerant within the heat pump in the heating mode
electric energy; also, the amount of electric energy absorbs the heat to be supplied to the space to be
produced, expressed in watthours (Wh). heated from an outside medium (air, ground or
ground water) and in the cooling mode absorbs heat
Geophysicist: A person who applies the principles of from the space to be cooled which is then rejected to
physics to the principles of geology. See Chapter 4 the outside medium.
for a more detailed description.
High-Temperature Collector: A solar thermal
Geothermal Electric Power Generation: Electricity collector designed to operate at a temperature of 180
derived from heat found under the earth’s surface. degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
Within the earth, there are vast amounts of molten
rock and metal, covered by succeeding layers of Hot Dry Rock: Heat energy residing in
cooler material, up to the crust of the earth’s surface. impermeable, crystalline rock. Hydraulic fracturing
Underground rivers generate steam that is liberated in may be used to create permeability to enable
the form of geysers through fissures in the earth’s circulation of water and removal of the heat.
surface.
Hydraulic Fracturing: Fracturing of rock at depth
with fluid pressure. Hydraulic fracturing at depth
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may be accomplished by pumping water into a well of 290 degrees to 470 degrees Fahrenheit. This type
at very high pressures. Under natural conditions, of fuel is used for turbojet and turboprop aircraft
vapor pressure may rise high enough to cause engines, primarily by the military. Excludes ram-jet
fracturing in a process known as hydrothermal and petroleum rocket fuels.
brecciation.
Joule: The meter-kilogram-second unit of work or
Hydrocarbons: Organic compounds of hydrogen energy, equal to the work done by a force of one
and carbon. Mixtures including various hydrocarbons newton when its point of application moves through a
include crude oil, natural gas, natural gas condensate distance of one meter in the direction of the force;
and methane. equivalent to 107 and one-watt second.

Hydroelectric Energy: The production of electricity Kerosene: Light hydrocarbon distillates in the 150
from kinetic energy in flowing water. degrees to 280 degrees Centigrade (300 degrees to
550 degrees Fahrenheit) distillation range. Includes
Hydroelectric Plant: A plant in which the turbine vaporizing oil for use in reciprocating engines
generators are driven by falling water. (primarily tractors), lamp oil, and kerosene and
heating oil.
Hydroelectric Power Generation: Electricity
generated by an electric power plant whose turbines Kilowatt (kW): One thousand watts.
are driven by falling water. It includes electric utility
and industrial generation of hydroelectricity, unless Kilowatthour (kWh): One thousand watthours.
otherwise specified. Generation is reported on a net
basis, i.e., on the amount of electric energy generated Landman: A person who negotiates the purchase of
after the electric energy consumed by station leases, generally an agent or an employee of an oil
auxiliaries and the losses in the transformers that are company.
considered integral parts of the station are deducted.
Lease (Oil and Gas): The exclusive contractual right
Independent (Oil Company): Any domestic oil to explore for and develop minerals on a property
company that is not one of the seven major owned by a mineral rights owner.
international oil companies. In addition, it also refers
to any U.S. oil company that is not part of the 18-20 Levelized Cost: The present value of the total cost of
largest integrated oil companies in the United States. building and operating a generating plant over its
economic life, converted to equal annual payments.
Independent Power Producer: A corporation, Costs are levelized in real dollars (i.e., adjusted to
person, agency, authority, or other legal entity or remove the impact of inflation).
instrumentality that owns electric generating capacity
and is a wholesale electric producer without a Lifting Costs: Expenses related to lifting oil from a
designated franchised service area. producing reservoir in a well up to the surface.

Investor-Owned Electric Utility: A class of utility Lignite: Lignite, the lowest rank of coal, is a young
that is investor owned and organized as a tax paying coal. It is brownish-black in color and has high
business. moisture content, sometimes as high as 45% and a
high ash content. It tends to disintegrate when
Jet Fuel (Kerosene-Type): A quality kerosene exposed to the weather. The heat content of lignite is
product with an average gravity of 40.7 degrees API, one of the lower coals, usually less than 5700
and a 10% distillation temperature of 400 degrees Kcal/kg.
Fahrenheit. A relatively low freezing-point distillate
of the kerosene type; it is used primarily for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): Conventional
commercial turbojet and turboprop aircraft engines. natural gas that is liquefied by reducing its
temperature to minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit at
Jet Fuel (Naphtha-Type): A fuel in the heavy atmospheric pressure. The volume of the LNG is
naphtha boiling range with an average gravity of 52.8 1/600 that of the gas in its vapor state.
degrees API and 20 to 90% distillation temperatures
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Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG): Ethane, include all grades of lubricating oils from spindle oil
ethylene, propane, propylene, normal butane, to cylinder oil and those used in greases.
butylene, and isobutane produced at refineries or
natural gas processing plants, including plants that Major Oil Company: Traditionally refers to the
fractionate raw natural gas plant liquids. large integrated international companies such as
British Petroleum, Exxon, Mobil and Texaco.
Liquefied Refinery Gases (LRG): Liquefied
petroleum fractionated from refinery or still gases. Mcf: One thousand cubic feet.
Through compression and/or refrigeration, they are
retained in the liquid state. The reported categories Medium-Temperature Collectors: Solar thermal
are ethane/ethylene, propane/propylene, normal collectors designed to operate in the temperature
butane/butylene, and isobutane. Excludes still gas range of 140 degrees to 180 degrees Fahrenheit, but
used for chemical or rubber manufacture, which is that can also operate at a temperature as low as 110
reported as petrochemical feedstock, and also degrees Fahrenheit. The collector typically consists
excludes liquefied petroleum gases intended for of a metal frame, metal absorption panels with
blending into gasoline, which are reported as gasoline integral flow channels (attached tubing for liquid
blending components. collectors or integral ducting for air collectors), and
glazing and insulation on the sides and back.
Liquid Collector: A medium-temperature solar
thermal collector, employed predominantly in water Megawatt (MW): One million watts.
heating, which uses pumped liquid as the heat-
transfer medium. Megawatthour (MWh): One million watt hours.

Load (Electric): The amount of electric power Metallurgical Coke: A strong, hard coke produced
delivered or required at any specific point or points mainly for use in the iron and steel industry, where it
on a system. The requirement originates at the serves as a chemical agent and source of energy. It is
energy-consuming equipment of the consumers. used mainly in blast furnaces to absorb the oxygen
contained in iron oxides and provide energy for
Log, Logging: A record of the activities related to smelting. A portion of its potential energy is
the drilling and completion of oil and gas wells. captured in the gases generated in the smelting
process, then recycled in the form of blast furnace
Logging (Wireline): The lowering of a sensing gas to provide additional energy inside or outside the
device into the borehole on the end of an electric smelting process. Metallurgical coke is also used to
cable, which then logs information about the some extent as a domestic fuel and as raw material
borehole. for the manufacture of gas.

Low-Temperature Collectors: Metallic or Methane: A colorless, flammable, odorless
nonmetallic solar thermal collectors that generally hydrocarbon gas (CH ), which is the major
4
operate at temperatures below 110 degrees component of natural gas. It is also an important
Fahrenheit and use pumped liquid or air as the heat source of hydrogen in various industrial processes.
transfer medium. They usually contain no glazing
and no insulation, and they are often made of plastic Methanol: A light, volatile alcohol (CH OH) eligible
3
or rubber, although some are made of metal. for motor gasoline blending.

Lubricants (Greases): Mixtures of lubricating oils Mineral Interest (Mineral Rights): The right of
that contain substances that reduce their ability to ownership to gas, oil, or other minerals as they
flow. naturally occur at or below a tract of land.

Lubricants (Lubricating Oils): Substances used to Mbbl: One thousand barrels.
reduce friction between bearing surfaces. Petroleum
lubricants may be produced either from distillates or Mcfe: One thousand cubic feet of natural gas
residues. Other substances may be added to impart equivalents using the ratio of six Mcf of natural gas
or improve certain required properties. “Lubricants”
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to one Bbl of crude oil, condensate and natural gas chain reaction, producing heat in a controlled manner
liquids. for process use.

Mmbtu: One million British thermal units. Nuclear Power Plant: A facility in which heat
produced in a reactor by the fissioning of nuclear fuel
Mmcf: One million cubic feet. is used to drive a steam turbine.

Mmcfe: Million cubic feet of natural gas equivalent. Nuclear Reactor: An apparatus in which the nuclear
fission chain can be initiated, maintained and
Mud (Drilling Mud): A fluid mixture of clays, controlled so that energy is released at a specific rate.
chemicals and weighting materials that are suspended
in fresh water, salt water or diesel oil. Mud cools and Octane Rating: A number used to indicate motor
lubricates a drill bit, carries small chips of rock to the gasoline’s antiknock performance in motor vehicle
surface, and maintains the required pressure at the engines. The two recognized laboratory engine test
bottom of the hole. methods for determining the antiknock rating, i.e.,
octane rating, of gasoline are the Research method
Natural Gas: A mixture of hydrocarbon compounds, and the Motor method. To provide a single number
primarily methane and small quantities of various as guidance to the customer, the antiknock index
nonhydrocarbons existing in a gaseous phase or in ® + M)/2, which is the average of the Research and
solution with crude in natural underground reservoirs Motor octane numbers, was developed.
at reservoir conditions.
Ohm: The unit of measurement of electrical
Net Generation: Gross generation minus plant use resistance. The resistance of a circuit in which a
from all electric utility owned plants. The energy potential difference of one volt produces a current of
required for pumping at a pumped-storage plant is one ampere.
regarded as plant use and must be deducted from the
gross generation. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC): Current members are Algeria, Indonesia,
Net Summer Capability: The steady hourly output, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Saudi
which generating equipment is expected to supply to Arabia, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela.
system load exclusive of auxiliary power, as (Ecuador withdrew from OPEC on December 31,
demonstrated by tests at the time of summer peak 1992 and Gabon withdrew on December 31, 1994.)
demand.
Ozone: A molecule made up of three atoms of
Non-regulated Business: See “Regulated Business.” oxygen. It occurs naturally in the stratosphere and
provides a protective layer shielding the Earth from
Nonutility Power Producer: A corporation, person, harmful ultraviolet radiation. In the troposphere, it is
agency, authority or other legal entity or a chemical oxidant, a greenhouse gas and a major
instrumentality that owns electric generating capacity component of photochemical smog.
and is not an electric utility.
Ozone-Depleting Substance: Gases containing
Nuclear Electric Power Generation: Electricity chlorine that are being controlled because they
generated by nuclear reactors of various types such as deplete ozone. They are thought to have some
heavy water, light water, and boiling water. indeterminate impact on greenhouse gases.
Generation is reported on a net basis and excludes
energy that is generally used by the electric power Paraffin (Oil): A light-colored, wax-free oil obtained
plant for its own operating purposes and not for by pressing paraffin distillate.
commercial use.
Passive Solar: A system in which solar energy alone
Nuclear Fuel: Fissionable materials that have been is used for the transfer of thermal energy. Pumps,
enriched to such a composition that, when placed in a blowers or other heat transfer devices that use energy
nuclear reactor, will support a self-sustaining fission other than solar are not used.
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Peak Watt: A manufacturer's unit indicating the Pipeline, Natural Gas: A continuous pipe conduit,
amount of power a photovoltaic cell or module will complete with such equipment as valves, compressor
produce at standard test conditions (normally 1,000 stations, communications systems and meters, for
watts per square meter and 25 degrees Celsius). transporting natural gas and/or supplemental gaseous
fuels from one point to another, usually from a point
Petrochemical Feedstocks: Products from in or beyond the producing field or processing plant
petroleum refineries and natural gas liquids to another pipeline or to points of utilization. Also
processing plants to be processed further at a refers to a company operating such facilities.
petrochemical plant. Includes products primarily in
the naphtha range, still gas (refinery gas), and Pipeline, Petroleum: Crude oil and product pipelines
liquefied gases for petrochemical use. (including interstate, intrastate and intracompany
pipelines) used to transport crude oil and petroleum
Petroleum Products: Products obtained from the products, respectively, within the 50 States and the
processing of crude oil, unfinished oils, natural gas District of Columbia.
liquids, and other miscellaneous hydrocarbon
compounds. Includes aviation gasoline, motor Power (Electrical): The rate at which energy is
gasoline, naphtha-type jet fuel, kerosene-type jet fuel, transferred. An electric measurement unit of power
kerosene, distillate fuel oil, residual fuel oil, ethane, called a volt-ampere is equal to the product of one
liquefied petroleum gases, petrochemical feedstocks, volt and one ampere. This is equivalent to one watt
special naphthas, lubricants, paraffin wax, petroleum for a direct current system and a unit of aparent
coke, asphalt and road oil, still gas, and other power is separated into real and reactive power. Real
miscellaneous products. power is the work-producing part of apparent power
that measures the rate of supply of energy and is
Petroleum Stocks: Primary stocks of crude oil and denoted as Kilowatts.
petroleum products held in storage at (or in) leases,
refineries, natural gas processing plants, pipelines, Primary Recovery: The production of oil under
tankfarms, and bulk terminals that can store at least natural occurrences. Oil flows from a reservoir into
50,000 barrels of petroleum products or that can the well under natural conditions. (First phase in oil
receive petroleum products by tanker, barge or production.)
pipeline.
Prime Mover: The motive force that drives an
Petroleum: A generic term applied to oil and oil electric generator.
products in all forms, such as crude oil, lease
condensate, unfinished oils, refined petroleum Propane: A normally gaseous straight-chain
products, natural gas plants and liquids, and hydrocarbon (C H ). It is a colorless paraffinic gas
3 8
nonhydrocarbon compounds blended into finished that boils at a temperature of –43.67 degrees
petroleum products. Fahrenheit. It is extracted from natural gas or refinery
gas streams.
Photovoltaic (PV) Cell: An electronic device
consisting of layers of semiconductor materials Prospect: The hypothetical location of naturally
fabricated to form a junction (adjacent layers of occurring, commercially exploitable oil and gas at a
materials with different electronic characteristics) and clearly defined underground location.
electrical contacts, and being capable of converting
incident light directly into electricity (direct current). Proved Reserves of Crude Oil: Proved reserves of
crude oil are the estimated quantities of all liquids
Photovoltaic (PV) Module: An integrated assembly defined as crude oil, which geological and
of interconnected photovoltaic cells designed to engineering data demonstrate with reasonable
deliver a selected level of working voltage and certainty to be recoverable in future years from
current at its output terminals, packaged for known reservoirs under existing economic and
protection against environment degradation, and operating conditions.
suited for incorporation in photovoltaic power
systems. Proved Reserves of Natural Gas: Proved reserves
of natural gas are the estimated quantities which
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analysis of geological and engineering data Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF): Fuel processed from
demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be municipal solid waste that can be in shredded, fluff or
recoverable in future years from known reservoirs densified pellet forms.
under existing economic and operating conditions.
Regulated Business (Utility Companies): The
Public Utility District (PUB): Municipal business of providing natural gas or electric service
corporations organized to provide electric service to to customers under regulations and at prices set by
both incorporated cities and towns and government regulatory agencies. Generally, utilities
unincorporated rural areas. Public utility districts have been required to operate at set prices by and
operate in six states. profit ratios because they have been granted
monopoly or near-monopoly status to serve a given
Public Utility: Enterprise providing essential public geographic market. Under deregulation, utility
services such as electric, gas, telephone, water, and companies are being granted greater flexibility to set
sewer, under legally established monopoly prices and to enter new geographic markets. At the
conditions. same time, consumers are being granted greater
flexibility to set prices and to enter new geographic
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 markets, and the right to choose from among several
(PURPA): One part of the National Energy Act, different utilities providers. This is similar to the
PURPA contains measures designed to encourage the deregulation that has taken place in the long-distance
conservation of energy, more efficient use of telephone market in recent years. Meanwhile, most
resources and equitable rates. Principal among these utility companies have sought new avenues for
were suggested retail rate reforms and new incentives profits by entering non-regulated businesses. For
for production of electricity by cogenerators and example, many of them sell air-conditioning
users of renewable resources. equipment, provide financial services, have entered
telecommunications fields, or sell energy-related
Publicly Owned Electric Utility: A class of expertise in the form of energy management services.
ownership found in the electric power industry. This
group includes those utilities operated by Renewable Energy Resources: Energy resources
municipalities, and state and federal power agencies. that are naturally replenishing but flow-limited. They
are virtually inexhaustible in duration but limited in
Qualifying Facility (QF): A cogeneration or small the amount of energy that is available per unit of
power production facility that meets certain time. Renewable energy resources include: biomass,
ownership, operating and efficiency criteria hydro, geothermal, solar, wind, ocean thermal, wave
established by the Federal Energy Regulatory action and tidal action.
Commission (FERC) pursuant to the Public Utility
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). Reserves: The current inventory of oil or gas in a
reservoir at a well, property or an entire field.
Rate Base: The value of property upon which a Described as barrels of oil or MCF (thousands of
utility is permitted to earn a specified rate of return as cubic feet) of gas.
established by a regulatory authority. The rate base
generally represents the value of property used by the Reservoir: Any porous rock containing appreciable
utility in providing service. hydrocarbons.

Ratemaking Authority: A utility commission’s Royalty: A specified percentage of the oil and gas
legal authority to fix, modify, approve, or disapprove produced at a property to which the property owner is
rates, as determined by the powers given to the entitled without bearing the costs of such production.
commission by a state or federal legislature.
Rural Electrification Administration (REA): A
Refinery (Petroleum): An installation that lending agency of the U.S. Department of
manufacturers finished petroleum products from Agriculture, the REA makes self-liquidation loans to
crude oil, unfinished oils, natural gas liquids, other qualified borrowers to finance electric and telephone
hydrocarbons and alcohol. service to rural areas. The REA also finances the
construction and operation of generating plants,