§ 15-72-501. Definitions

AR Code § 15-72-501 (2018) (N/A)
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(a) As used in this subchapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Cycling" means an operation in which condensate-bearing gas is displaced from a gas zone by injection of dry gas; and

(2) "Gas condensate" means the liquid produced by the condensation of a vapor or gas either after it leaves the reservoir or while still in the reservoir. Condensate is often called distillate, drips, white oil, etc.

(3) (A) "Gas drive" means the process wherein energy for the recovery of oil is derived from gas under pressure in the formation. There may be:

(i) An injected gas drive; or

(ii) A gas-cap drive, which is the displacement of oil by the growth or expansion of a gas zone in an oil reservoir; or

(iii) A solution-gas drive, which is the displacement of oil by the expansion of the gas dissolved in it, depending upon the source of the compressed gas.

(B) In this manner, gas drive may apply to either primary or secondary recovery;

(4) "Gas injection" means the introduction of any gas into a subsurface reservoir;

(5) "Pressure maintenance" means a primary recovery or secondary recovery operation so conducted as to afford some degree of control over reservoir-pressure decline. This is preferably accomplished by gas injection in the early life of a pool;

(6) "Primary recovery" means the oil, gas, or oil and gas, recovered by natural flow, artificial lift, or any other method that may be employed to produce them through a single well bore, and the fluid enters the well bore by the action of native reservoir energy, or gravity;

(7) "Recycling" means a continuous reinjection of produced gas;

(8) "Repressuring" means the introduction of fluid, either gas or liquid, into a producing formation for the purpose of increasing the reservoir pressure;

(9) "Secondary recovery" means the oil, gas, or oil and gas recovered by any artificial flowing, pumping, or any other method that may be employed to produce them through the joint use of two (2) or more well bores. Secondary recovery is generally recognized as being that recovery which may be obtained by the injection of liquids or gases into the reservoir for the purpose of augmenting reservoir energy. Usually, but not necessarily, this is done after the primary recovery phase has passed;

(10) "Water drive" means any process whereby energy for the recovery of oil is derived principally from the movement of water in the formation. The water may be either native or introduced artificially into the formation;

(11) "Water flooding" means the introduction of water into an oil-bearing formation for the purpose of increasing the oil recovery, i.e., a secondary recovery operation employing water injection;

(12) "Water injection" means the introduction of water into a subsurface reservoir;

(b) In addition, the definitions found in § 15-72-102 shall also apply.