Oil and Gas Glossary: B Terms

10 oil and gas terms start with the letter B. Each one is defined below, in alphabetical order.

Bank Draft

An instrument guaranteeing payment to a party within a certain time window, so long as certain conditions are met.

Barrel, Bbl

In the oil and gas industry, a barrel is 42 U.S. gallons measured at 60º Fahrenheit.

Basic Sediment and Water, BS&W

Impurities and water contained in the raw fluid produced by an oil well.

BCF

The abbreviation for billion cubic feet of gas.

Blowout Preventor, BP

Casinghead equipment that prevents the uncontrolled flow of oil, gas and mud from the well by closing around the drill pipe or sealing the hole.

BOPD

The abbreviation for barrels of oil per day.

Bottom Hole Pressure, BHP

The pressure of a well at the bottom of the hole or wellbore. Usually, measured in pounds per square inch or PSI. BHP is the commonly used abbreviation for bottom-hole pressure.

Brine

Another word for salt water.

British Thermal Unit, BTU

The amount of heat required to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit under standard conditions of pressure and temperature.

BTU Factor

A number which is multiplied by the volume of gas measured in MCF in order to arrive at the heating value of gas which is measured in millions of British Thermal Units (MMBTU).