DIFFERENT TERMS & ABBREVIATIONS USED IN OIL & GAS INDUSTRY (REFINERIES) & IN PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY INCLUDING MOST COMMONLY USED CHEMICAL INDUSTRY TERMS.
L
LAGGING
A covering to retain heat, such as mineral wool wrapped on steam pipes.
LASER ALIGNMENT
Method of aligning rotating equipment shafts using a laser beam.
LATENT HEAT
Heat required for a change of state without a change of temperature.
1. The latent heat of fusion, or the amount of heat necessary to change a unit mass of solid into a liquid without change of temperature.
2. The latent heat of vapourisation, or the amount of heat necessary to change a unit mass of liquid into vapour without change of temperature.
The latent heat of condensation. Effectively the opposite of 2 (above).
LEAD
Industry parlance for the motor fuel anti‑knock additive compounds tetraethyl‑lead, tetramethyl‑lead, or for other organometallic lead anti‑knock compounds. Not used in NZ.
LEAD ACETATE TEST
A method of detecting the presence of hydrogen sulphide in a sample using lead acetate paper, which will change from white to brown upon detection.
LEAD SUSCEPTIBILITY
Ability of gasoline’s to respond to the addition of tetramethyl‑lead, or other organometallic lead anti‑knock compounds, as reflected in the increase of anti‑knock quality (octane number) with increase in lead content.
LEADED GASOLINE
Refers to gasoline containing tetramethyl‑lead or other organometallic lead anti‑knock compounds. Not used in NZ.
LEAN ADIP
Adip that has been regenerated and had H2S removed.
LICHEN
Simple plant that is sensitive to SO2 and can thus be used as an indication of SO2 (i.e. stack emission) pollution.
LIGHT DISTILLATE
A term applied to distillates the final boiling point of which does not exceed 300oC.
LIGHT ENDS
The lower‑boiling components of a mixture of hydrocarbons.
LIGHT TOPS
The lower‑boiling components of Naphtha.
LINEAR PROGRAMME (LP)
A mathematical representation of an operation which can be optimised according to a set of economic criteria.
LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS (LNG)
Natural Gas can be liquefied, e.g. at atmospheric pressure by cooling to about ‑ 160C (‑256oF).
LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG)
of the gaseous hydrocarbons, propane and the butanes can be liquefied under relatively low pressure and at ambient temperature and are then known as liquefied petroleum gas. Light hydrocarbon material, gaseous at atmospheric temperature and pressure, held in the liquid state by pressure to facilitate storage, transport and handling. Commercial liquefied gas consists essentially of propane, butane, or mixtures thereof.
LIQUID PHASE
The term describing a product or substance when in the form of a liquid.
LIQUID SEAL
A quantity of liquid used to prevent the emission of a gas through an orifice. To be completely effective the hydrostatic head exerted by the liquid must be greater than the pressure of the gas and the gas must be insoluble in the liquid.
LITRE
The primary standard of capacity in the metric system, equal to the volume of one kilogram of pure water at maximum density, at approximately 4C, and under normal atmospheric pressure.
LIVE STEAM
As contrasted to exhaust steam, steam coming directly from a boiler before being utilised for power or heat.
LOAD‑ON‑TOP SYSTEM
System of cleaning the tanks of a crude oil tanker by collecting washings from each tank in one tank, allowing the water to separate from the oil, then discharging the water overboard, leaving the oil residues in the tank. The next crude oil cargo is loaded on top of the residues.
LOADING RACK
A structure built alongside railroad tracks or at road depots for the purpose of loading tank cars or road tankers with products.
LOGIC
See functional logic.
LONG RESIDUE
The residue resulting from the atmospheric distillation of crude oil.
LOST TIME ACCIDENT (LTI)
Any work injury that results in the worker being unable to recommence work on the day after the injury.
LOW VISCOSITY INDEX
See Viscosity index.
LOWER EXPLOSIVE LIMIT
Leanest mixture that will explode. A greater air: hydrocarbon ratio will not ignite.
LUBOIL
Lubricating oil
LUBRICANT
A substance, especially oil, grease, or a solid such as graphite, which may be interposed between moving parts of machinery, thus reducing friction by preventing contact between the bearing surfaces. The lubricant has an important function in removing heat and dirt from the region of the bearing surfaces.
LUBRICATING OIL
A fluid lubricant used to reduce friction between bearing surfaces. Petroleum lubricating oils may be produced either from distillates or residues; amounts of other substances, known as additives, may be added to impart or improve certain required properties.
LUBRICATION
The state of being lubricated, or the act of applying lubricating substances which are capable of reducing friction between and removing heat from moving mechanical parts.
M
M CAP DECK
A de‑entrainment draw off tray used on HVUII.
MANIFOLD
A piping arrangement which allows one stream of liquid or gas to be divided into two or more streams, or which allows several streams to be collected into one.
MANOMETER
An instrument for measuring the expansion or the expansive power of gases or vapours; a pressure gauge or vacuum gauge.
MASS SPECTROMETER
A device for analysing a substance in terms of the mass‑to‑charge ratios of its constituents. It is so designed that the beam constituents of a given‑mass‑to‑charge ratio are focused on an electrode and detected or measured electrically. The mass spectrum shows the distribution in mass or the mass‑to‑charge ratio of ionised atoms, molecules, or molecular fragments.
MELTING POINT
Temperature at which a solid substance melts or fuses. For asphalt, the melting point is defined as the temperature at which the asphalt is soft enough to permit a steel ball to drop through a disk of asphalt supported in a ring suspended in water (ring‑and‑ball method). The grease melting point is determined by placing a small amount of the grease on the bulb of a thermometer and heating in hot air until the grease begins to run off.
MERCAPTANS
Mercaptans or alkyl‑hydrosulphides are organic compounds of carbon, hydrogen and sulphur. They have a bad odour and frequently occur in unrefined gasoline. Mercaptans must be removed from gasoline or converted to the unobjectionable disulphides by suitable refining (e.g. by sweetening).
METHANATOR
Part of the reformer process that converts unwanted carbon oxides to methane which is more acceptable to the hydrocracker.
METHANE CH4
A light, odourless inflammable gas. It is the chief constituent of natural gas. It is also often produced by a partial decay of plants in swamps (marsh gas), so that its occurrence is commonly misinterpreted by the layman as an indication of the presence of petroleum.
METHANE SERIES
A homologous series of open‑chain saturated hydrocarbons of the general formula CnH2n+2 of which methane (CH4) is the first member of the type; generally called the paraffins.
METHANOL
Methylalcohol, CH3OH. The first member of the class of organic compounds known as alcohols. It is a liquid boiling at 66C. Methanol is inflammable and poisonous. It is used in the production of synthetic gasoline ‑ see synfuel.
METHYL CHLOROFORM
Used as a catalyst promotor in the platformer.
METHYL TERTIARY BUTYL ETHER (MTBE)
An oxygenated compound which can be used as a blending compound in gasoline to boost octane.
METRIC SYSTEM
A system of weights and measures derived from the metre. The system includes: measures of length, wherein the metre is the unit, measures of surface, wherein the square metre is the unit, measures of capacity, wherein the litre is the unit, and weights, wherein the gram is the unit.
MICROCRYSTALLINE WAXES
Waxes having a very fine crystal structure, and consisting mainly of iso‑ and cycloparaffins with some aromatics. They are produced mainly from heavy lubricating oil residues and have melting points from 60‑90C.
MIDDLE DISTILLATE
One of the distillates obtained between kerosine and lubricating oil fractions in the refining processes. These include light fuel oils and diesel fuel.
MINERAL OIL
Generally speaking, this term refers to a wide range of products derived from mineral substances.
MINIMUM STOP
A setting used to restrict the closure of a control valve. There are two ways of achieving this:‑
1. Mechanical, by use of a collar or nut on the spindle, diaphragm.
2. Pneumatically, by restricting the minimum air signal from the control instrument.
MISCIBLE
Capable of being mixed (stability and uniformity throughout the mixture are usually inferred).
MIXED BASE CRUDE
A crude oil which is a mixture of paraffin ‑ and naphthene‑base crude.
MIXER
Device used for mixing partially im-miscible liquids in process plant or to prevent layering in tanks ‑ a propeller or jet mixture may be used.
MIXING VALVE
A valve which creates turbulence within a pipe to effect mixing of the materials flowing through the pipe.
MIXTURE
The intermingling of two or more substances, each retaining its original properties.
MOLE PERCENT
An expression of the percent composition of a mixture in terms of moles. The relative numbers of moles are computed by dividing the numbers of units of weight of the individual constituents by their respective molecular weights.
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
The sum of the atomic weights of the atoms composing a molecule.
MOLECULE
The smallest portion of an element or a compound which retains chemical identify with the same particular substance en masse, e.g. unit of water.
MOTOR GASOLINE
A complex mixture of relatively volatile hydrocarbons, with or without small quantities of additives, which have been blended to form a fuel suitable for use in automotive internal‑combustion engines.
MOTOR OCTANE NUMBER (MON)
The Octane number of a Motor Gasoline determined in a special laboratory test engine under high "engine‑severity" conditions, giving a rough measure of the high‑speed knock properties of the gasoline.
MOTORISED VALVE
A valve incorporated in automatic control systems to regulate the rate of flow of material through a section of pipe. It is actuated either hydraulically, electrically, from a control instrument.
MULTIGRADE OIL
One of the multi‑viscosity number oils in which one oil combines three SAE viscosity number grades. For example, multigrade SAE 10W‑30 grade may be used where SAE 10W, SAE 20‑20W, or SAE 30 grades specified. Multi‑grade oils are usually made to meet the requirements of API Services MS, DG, and DM. They have been made possible by improved refining processes and the use of improved additives.
MULTISTAGE PUMP
Pump with more than one impeller. Generally used in high pressure/medium flow applications.
N
NAPHTHA
Naphtha’s are straight‑run gasoline fractions boiling below kerosene. Being generally unsuitable as a blending component for premium gasoline’s, they are used as a feedstock for Platforming. Other important outlets for naphtha’s are their use as chemical feedstock (e.g. ethylene manufacture) and as feedstock for town gas manufacture.
NAPHTHENE
A class of saturated cyclic hydrocarbons of the general formula CnH2N. One of a group of cyclic hydrocarbons, also termed cycloparaffins or cycloalkanes. Polycyclic members are found in the higher boiling fractions of crude oil.
NAPHTHENIC ACID
Naturally occurring acidic compounds commonly found in Naphthenic crude’s.
NAPHTHENIC CRUDE
Crude oil containing a relatively large percentage of naphthene. An oil obtained from a Naphthenic crude is said to be a naphthene base oil. Lubricating oils made from such crude’s are normally distinguished from similar oils made from paraffinic crude’s (both oils equally well refined) by lower gravity, lower carbon content and pour point, and lower rating viscosity index.
NATURAL DRAUGHT
A flow of air into the combustion chamber of a heater which is neither induced nor forced but derives solely from the fact that the pressure inside the heater is lower than that of the ambient atmosphere (due to effect of stack).
NATURAL GAS
Naturally occurring mixtures of hydrocarbon gases and vapours, the more important of which are methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, and hexane. The gas which occurs naturally with crude oils, but also in reservoirs which contain only a few heavier constituents. It consists mainly of the lighter paraffin hydrocarbons. Natural gas is usually classified as wet or dry, depending on whether the proportions of gasoline constituents which it contains are large or small. Most gas reaches the surface through the tubing, but in some pumping wells it is taken off at the top of the casing (casinghead gas).
NATURAL GASOLINE
Gasoline extracted from wet natural gas, consisting of butane, pentane and heavier hydrocarbons. After stabilisation ‑ the removal of the lighter components ‑ the gasoline is suitable for blending into motor gasoline.
NET ASSET BACKING/SHARE
Shareholders' Investment
Number of shares
NET PROFIT AFTER TAX
Income from all sources less operating costs, depreciation and tax.
NET PROFIT BEFORE TAX
Income from all sources less operating costs and depreciation.
NEUTRAL
Neither acid nor alkaline.
NEUTRON
An uncharged particle having the mass of the proton. Generally, together with the protons, neutrons make up the nucleus of atoms.
NITROGEN
Element of atomic number 7, in group V of the periodic system; colourless, odourless, tasteless diatomic gas constituting approximately four‑fifths of the air; chemically rather inert; soluble in water. Derived from liquid air by fractional distillation. Used extensively in refineries for inerting process plants (air exclusion).
NITROGEN BASE
A compound, such as amine, which may be considered a substitution product of ammonia; a compound containing trivalent nitrogen, capable, like ammonia, of combining with acids in the formation of salts containing pentavalent nitrogen.
NON‑ASSOCIATED NATURAL GAS
Gas accumulations which exist independently of any oil accumulation.
NON CUSTODY TRANSFER TANKS
Tanks which receive products from internal sources or deliver products to internal sources.
NORMALISE
Correction made to a calculated figure (e.g. WABT) to allow for the effect of other variables.
O
OCTANE
The octane number of a fuel is a number equal to the percentage by volume of iso‑octane in a mixture of iso‑octane and normal heptane having the same resistance to detonation as the fuel under consideration in a special test engine. It is a measure of anti‑knock value of a gasoline and, in the case of the special test engine, the higher the octane number the higher the anti‑knock quality of the gasoline.
OIL RING
A loose ring, the inner surface of which rides a shaft or journal causing the ring to rotate. The ring dips into a reservoir of lubricant, from which it carries the lubricant to the top of the shaft for distribution to a bearing. Also the ring on an internal‑combustion engine piston which controls the lubrication of the piston and cylinder walls, as contrasted to the compression rings.
OIL SHALE
A compacted sedimentary rock consisting mainly of consolidated muds and clays and containing organic matter which yields oil when destructively distilled but not appreciably when extracted with the ordinary solvents for petroleum.
OLEFINS
A class of unsaturated, non‑cyclic, aliphatic hydrocarbons of the general formula CnH2n (mono‑olefins). Ethene is the parent member of the group. Not very abundant in crude oils.
ONCE‑THROUGH
An adjective describing:
1. A condition or operation in which no portion of the product is recycled.
2. The products from such an operation.
ON STREAM
The length of time a unit is in actual production.
ORGANIC
Designation for a branch of chemistry; treating, in general, of the compounds produced in plants and animals, or of carbon‑hydrogen compounds of synthetic origin; contrasted with inorganic.
ORIFICE METER
An instrument which measures the flow through a pipe by use of the difference in pressure on the upstream and downstream sides of an orifice plate.
ORIFICE PLATE
A device for restricting the flow through a pipe.
OSMOSIS
Migration of ions or species from an area of high concentration to one of lower concentration.
OUTPUT
The pneumatic or electronic control signal sent from the control instrument to the valve.
OVERHEADS
In a distilling operation, that portion of the charge which is vapourised and removed as the total stream from the top of the column.
OVERLAP
In adjacent fractions, the temperature difference between the initial boiling point of the higher boiling fraction and the end point of the lower boiling fraction. Specifically the term 'overlap' is only used when this difference is negative (cf. GAP).
OXIDATION
The reaction of oxygen with a molecule that may or may not already contain oxygen. Oxidation may be partial, resulting in the incorporation of oxygen into the molecule or in the elimination of hydrogen from it, or it may be complete, forming carbon dioxide and water (combustion) ‑ contrast with reduction.
OXIDIZING FLAME
Term applied to a flame in which there is an excess of air or oxygen.
0 comments:
Post a Comment