P

P&A (Plugged and abandoned)

An empty or dry hole that has been filled with cement, marked and all equipment have been removed. 
 

Packer

A mechanical device containing a rubber packer with a smaller inside diameter, which can expand externally to seal the wellbore or the inside of the casing. In this way, a horizontal screening is created in the wellbore. The two most common packers are inflatable packers and production or test packers.
 

Pay-zone

Layers of rocks containing oil or gas deposits. 
 

Perforate

To create holes in the casing or cement so fluids can flow into the borehole and the other way. 
 

Perforating gun

Equipment packed with a number of explosives that is lowered into the borehole and brought to explosion. After this, the oil or gas flow is optimized. Also called gun perforator.

Permeability

A term for a rock’s ability to let a fluid pass through it. The reason why oil is not produced in higher amounts is the bad permeability in certain Danish fields. Permeability can be increased through stimulation.

Pig

Equipment flushed through a pipe (or pushed through if it is a gas pipe). The pig is used to clean or explore the inside of the pipeline or to separate two different products passing through the same line. 
 

Pinch-out trap

A geological trap where the oil and gas leading layer gradually gets thinner, until it disappears into an impermeable layer. 
 

Pipeline

A connected pipe system through which oil or gas can be pumped from one place to another. Exists both on land and at sea. 
 

Plugging

To close and seal a well that is no longer being used. Cement and mechanical plugs are used for plugging. 
 

Pop valve

Safety valve 
 

Ppb

Parts per billion 
 

Prime

To pour fluid into the pump in order to make it draw instantaneously. 
 

Produced water

Water extracted from the under surface along with oil or gas. Produced water can contain water from the reservoir, water injected into the formation and all kinds of chemicals added during the production/treatment process.
Also called brine or formation water. 
 

Production casing string

A casing string set across the reservoir interval. Within the tubing, the primary completion components are installed and the casing is perforated to create good communication with the bore and the production string.

Production drilling

Drilling wells in order to start production from them. 
 

Production string (tubing)

The string in the production well that the oil or gas flows through from the subsoil to get to the production platform. 
 

Prospective reserves

Reserves that may be extracted in the future with advanced technology or under different economical circumstances. 
 

Proved reserves

The amount of oil or gas from already known reservoirs that one expects it will be possible to extract with the existing and economical circumstances. 
 

Proven field

An oil or gas field whose extent and size are already known. 
 

PRT (Petroleum Revenue Tax)

A special tax put on the oil and gas production. The amount is calculated from the net profit that companies make on the production.

 

Purging

Cleaning pipelines for impurities, for instance water, before oil or natural gas are lead through them.

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