This describes the process to cement casing into the hole. The cement is pumped downhole to the bottom of the well and is forced up a certain distance into the annular space between casing and the rock wall of the drill hole.

Shale gas is a natural gas that is found trapped in within shale formations. Because shales ordinarily have insufficient permeability to allow significant fluid flow to a well bore, most shales are not commercial sources of natural gas. Horizontal drilling is often used with shale gas wells.

This is a natural gas which contains chemical impurities. A usual outcome of this would be a disagreeable odour.

Pipe which is set with cement through the shallow water sands to avoid polluting the water and keep the sand from caving in while drilling a well.

A swab is a tool which is lowered down a pipe on a wire line and then pulled out of the hole. As it travels up the pipe, rubber elements expand so that the fluid in the pipe is trapped above the swab and pushed to the surface. This  is necessary when the formation pressure is not high enough to blow the fluids in the pipe to the surface.

This describes natural gas that is free of significant amounts of hydrogen sulfide when produced.

Synthetic gas or SNG is a gas which is obtained by heating coal or refining heavy hydrocarbons.

A group of tanks at a well site used to store oil prior to sale to a pipeline company.

This describes gas that has been produced from a relatively impermeable reservoir rock. Hydrocarbon production from tight reservoirs can be difficult without stimulation operations.

Small diameter pipe which is installed in the casing. Oil is produced through tubing because it increases the viscosity of fluid and a well's flow capabilities.

Natural gas occurring alone, not in solution or as free gas with oil or condensate.

Upstream operations deal primarily with the exploration stages of the oil and gas industry, with upstream firms taking the first steps to first locate, test and drill for oil and gas. Later, once reserves are proven, upstream firms will extract any oil and gas from the reserve. Most large oil companies are known as "integrated" because they combine upstream activities with midstream and downstream operations, which take place after the production phase through to the point of sale.

A non-thermal heavy oil production method where a solvent vapour is used to reduce viscosity of the heavy oil. 

This term describes the resistance of fluid to flow. A high viscosity fluid will not flow as easily as a low viscosity fluid.

Crude oil with high viscosity and high specific gravity. Heavy oils typically have low hydrogen-to-carbon ratios, high asphaltene, sulfur, nitrogen, and heavy-metal content, as well as higher acid numbers.