Explanation of Common Acronyms
- IOR – Improved Oil Recovery:
- This is interpreted very widely and can include any initiative that leads to improved exploration, appraisal, development or recovery of oil and gas.
- EOR – Enhanced Oil Recovery:
- The traditional secondary and tertiary oil recovery processes (excluding conventional water flooding) such as immiscible and miscible hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gas injection, polymer, surfactant and caustic flooding and thermal methods (steam, in situ combustion).
- LCU – the DTI Licensing and Consents Unit:
- see http://www.og.dti.gov.uk/about_us/structure.htm.
- LED – the (Oil and Gas) Licences, Exploration and Development department:
- Part of the DTI Licensing and Consents Unit: see http://www.og.dti.gov.uk/about_us/structure.htm.
- OG-MRP – Oil & Gas Maximising Recovery Programme:
- An initiative within LCU-LED – see http://www.og.dti.gov.uk/information/sharp.htm and http://www.og-mrp.com (formerly known as SHARP).
- ACHARR – Advisory Committee for Hydrocarbons Additional Recovery Research:
- An advisory panel of senior personnel from the industry which provides guidance to OG-MRP on overall policy and on identifying and supporting R&D work for maximum exploitation of the UK´s hydrocarbon reserves – see http://www.og.dti.gov.uk/information/sharp.htm.
- PSFB – Public Sector Funding Body:
- For example ITF, EPSRC and NERC.
- ITF – Industry Technology Facilitator:
- Is a not for profit organisation supported by major oil and gas operating and service companies which funds oil-related technology development – see http://www.oil-itf.com/about/introduction.htm.
- EPSRC – Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council:
- Is the UK's main agency for funding research and related postgraduate training in engineering and the physical sciences – see http://www.epsrc.ac.uk/website/index.aspx
- NERC – Natural Environment Research Council:
- Channels Government funding into environment-related research - see http://www.nerc.ac.uk/aboutus.
- SMEs – Small and Medium Enterprise companies:
- Collective expression for independent more-entrepreneurial and research orientated companies.