Oil and Gas: Terms & Glossary (8)

Raised face	Type of flange facing used with flat ring gaskets. 150# and 300# raised face flanges have a 1/16" raised face, and 400# and above flanges have a ¼” raised face.
Rebar	Short form of reinforcing bar. A metal rod used in the reinforcement of concrete.
Reciprocating pump	Piping equipment with parts similar to a piston or plunger that moves back and forth to create pressure.
Recorder	A device used to record the liquid level, temperature, pressure or flow rate inside a vessel or piping system throughout a specified period of time.
Reducer	A pipe fitting with one end larger than the other that allows reductions in the diameter of a run of pipe.
Refinery	Process facility that breaks crude petroleum down into usable byproducts such as butane, propane, fuel oil, and lubricants.
Reflux	A liquid product returned to a fractionation column that aids in the fractionation process.
Reinforcing pad	A plate contoured to the shape of a vessel shell. It is positioned around nozzles to provide additional strength in the areas where metal was removed from the shell.
Restriction orifice	Standard orifice union assembly including spectacle blind used to create smooth flow.
Ring-type joint	Flange face that uses a steel ring rather than flat or full ring gasket.
Root gap	The 1/16" space between two butt-weld fittings prior to welding.
Rotary pump	Displacement-type pumps using pistons, gears, or screws to discharge a commodity.
Run	Generic name for any length of pipe.
Rung	Horizontal member of a ladder.
Saddle	U-shaped structural support welded to horizontal Vessels and exchangers. Saddles are bolted to concrete foundations and create a cradle-like support in which the vessel can rest.
Schedule	Wall thickness of pipe.
Seal pan	Installed below the bottom tray in a vessel to prevent liquids from bypassing the trays.
Seamless	Pipe manufactured without any resulting welded connection,
Shape roller	Mechanical apparatus that sizes and shapes rolled plate to form pipe.
Shell	The cylindrical walls of a vessel.
Shell and tube	Type of heat exchanger having tube bundles contained within an outer vessel shell.
Shoe	Structural member welded to the bottom side of a pipe having insulation. Designed to prevent the insulation from being crushed when the pipe rests on a steel support.
Skelp	Plate that has been rolled and shaped into the form of a pipe.
Skirt	A cylinder-shaped support for a vertical vessel. One end is welded to the base plate allowing it to rest on the foundation, and the other end is welded to the bottom head of a vertical vessel.
Skirt access opening	An 18" ID hole 2'-16" above the foundation that allows workers entrance for inspection and maintenance.
Skirt fireproofing	Brick or granite material applied to the interior and occasionally exterior surfaces of a vessel skirt to prevent damage in the event of a fire.
Skirt vents	Equally spaced holes approximately 3" to 4" in diameter bored near the top of the vessel skirt that allows toxic and explosive gases to escape.
Sleeper	Near grade-level structural support used to support horizontal piping runs.
Slip-on flange	Flange with a low hub that allows pipe to be inserted prior to welding.
Slotted anchor	Saddle or other support having elongated bolt holes that allows for movement due to heat expansion.
Specifications	Guidelines established by governmental agencies, standards associations, and vendors, for plant design and construction.
Spectacle blind	A figure 8-shaped plate placed within an orifice flange assembly. One end has a hole through which flow can pass to create smooth flow for accurate instrument readings.
Spiral weld	Type of pipe formed by twisting metal plate in spiral shapes then welding.
Spool	Type of isometric or orthographic drawing containing dimensions and callouts for fabrication.
Spring hanger	Pipe hanger using a coil spring to absorb movement within a pipe.
Steam	The vapor phase of water.
Steam, dry	Steam that is devoid of suspended water Particles.
Steam, saturated	Steam that exceeds boiling point temperature for an equivalent pressure.
Steam traced	Tubing coiled around a pipe containing steam to help maintain a desired temperature.
Steam turbine	Pump or generator driver using high pressure steam to power the turbine's impeller.
Stem	Threaded shaft within a valve that raises and lowers the valve wedge or disc by rotating the hand wheel.
Stub-in	Branch connection made on a run of pipe without the use of a fitting.
Suction	The inlet or incoming side of a pump or Compressor.
Swage	Typically a screwed or socket-weld type of fitting used to make a reduction in the diameter of the size of pipe.

Oil and Gas Law in a Nutshell, 5th Edition (Nutshell Series)