Oil and Gas: Terms & Glossary (9)

Tank	Storage vessel used for the collection of process materials.
Tank farm	Area within a process facility where several storage tanks reside.
Tee	Three-way fitting used to make branch connections on a run of pipe.
Temperature alarm	Instrument designed to signal dramatic changes in internal temperature.
Temperature controller	A control valve that regulates internal temperature of a pipe or vessel after receiving internal temperature of a pipe or vessel after receiving
Temperature control valve	Valve using fluctuations in temperature to make adjustments in commodity flow.
Temperature element	Thermocouple that allows portable test equipment to be inserted to measure the temperature of the commodity within a pipe or vessel.
Temperature indicator	Instrument that indicates temperature of the commodity in a pipe or vessel (thermometer).
Temperature recorder	A recording instrument that makes a permanent record of temperature within a pipe or vessel.
Temperature recording controller	Instrument that provides simultaneous recording and regulation of the temperature within a pipe or vessel by sending a signal to a control valve and recorder.
Temperature well (Thermo well)	Inserted into a coupling to protect the temperature instrument bulb.
Thermal expansion	Growth of pipe due to the application of heat.
Threaded end	Any piping component having internal or external threads.
Threads, external	Pipe component having screw threads cut into the exterior surface (male threads).
Threads, internal	Pipe component having screw threads cut into the interior surface (female threads).
Tower	Vertical vessel or column.
Tower, cooling	Equipment that dissipates heat gain in cooling water by evaporating specific amounts of water that has been aerated.
Transmitter	Instrument that sends signals to indicating, controlling, or recording devices.
Trapeze	Pipe hanger consisting of two vertical rods connected with a horizontal support member.
Tray	Flat metal plates spaced approximately 30" apart inside a vertical vessel that aid in the fractionation of crude petroleum into by products.
Tube bundle	Removable section of an exchanger containing internal tubes.
Tube sheet	Vertical plate separating the shell side from the channel end of an exchanger.
Turbulence	Uneven flow produced by directional changes or obstructions within the pipe.
Union	A three-piece fitting placed within a screwed or socket-weld configuration that permits quick disassembly of the configuration.
Utility	One of many plant services required for the efficient operation of the facility, for example, air, water, steam, sewer, and flares.
Utility air	Compressed air used to drive pneumatic tools, clean equipment, and perform other maintenance services.
Valve	Device used to control the flow of a commodity through a pipe.
Vapor	The gaseous state of any substance that is liquid or solid under ordinary circumstances.
Vapor lock	Trapped air or vapor in a pipe that prevents the flow of a commodity through the pipe.
Vendor	A third-party supplier of parts, equipment, or other components of the piping facility.
Vendor drawing	A drawing or rendering that depicts descriptive information pertaining to the equipment or piping component that a supplier or manufacturer delivers to the piping facility.
Vertical heater	Device used to raise the temperature of a commodity to the point at which it can be used in a process system.
Vessel	Generic term used to describe any closed container housing liquid, vapor, or gaseous commodity.
Wedge	Sealing component of a gate valve.
Weir	Dam-like plate welded on a tray that allows a fractionated by-product to collect and be extracted by a nozzle.
Welding ring	See back-up ring.
Weld neck flange	Flange with a tapered neck for butt descriptive welding to other bevel-end piping components.

Oil & Gas Production in Nontechnical Language