Petroleum Industry Fundamentals Flashcards
7 cards from real CPA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Petroleum Industry Fundamentals flashcards as text
Which process is used at a refinery to break large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more valuable ones?
Answer: Cracking
Cracking (thermal or catalytic) breaks heavy, large hydrocarbon molecules into lighter, higher-value products such as gasoline and diesel by applying heat and/or catalysts.
What is a 'kick' in well drilling terminology?
Answer: An unwanted influx of formation fluids into the wellbore
A kick occurs when formation pressure exceeds the hydrostatic pressure of the drilling fluid, causing formation fluids to flow into the wellbore, which can lead to a blowout if uncontrolled.
What type of drilling rig is typically used for land-based operations in remote areas?
Answer: Land rig (portable mast or derrick)
Land rigs with portable masts or derricks are designed to be transported and assembled in remote locations for onshore drilling operations.
What does 'workover' mean in petroleum operations?
Answer: Performing maintenance or remedial operations on a producing well
A workover is a remedial operation performed on an existing well to restore, maintain, or improve production, such as replacing tubing, stimulating the formation, or repairing equipment.
What is the significance of the 'dew point' in natural gas production?
Answer: The temperature at which condensate begins to drop out of the gas stream
The dew point is the temperature (at a given pressure) at which heavier hydrocarbon components begin to condense out of the gas, which is critical for pipeline transport specifications.
In what formation type is oil shale found, and what makes it different from conventional oil reservoirs?
Answer: Fine-grained sedimentary rock; the oil has not migrated out of the source rock
Oil shale is fine-grained sedimentary rock (often shale) where the hydrocarbons remain in the source rock rather than having migrated to a separate reservoir, requiring special extraction techniques.
What is the role of a 'separator' in oil and gas surface processing?
Answer: To separate oil, gas, and water from the produced stream
A separator is a pressure vessel that uses differences in density and vapor pressure to separate the produced stream into distinct oil, gas, and water phases for individual processing.