Page 358 - Geology and Geochemistry of Oil and Gas

GLOSSARY 319
K

Kaolinite A common, white to grayish, or yellowish
clay mineral of a kaolin group; occurs as a
secondary mineral produced by alteration of
aluminosilicates.
Karst Topography (surficial and subsurface) formed as a
result of the dissolution of soluble rocks, such as
limestones, dolomites, and evaporites, and
characterized by closed depressions, caves, and
underground drainage.
Karst towers Residual hills in karsted terranes. Syn: Buried hills.
Kelly A hollow 40-ft-long pipe, having four or more sides
and threaded connections at each end to permit it to
be attached to the swivel and to the drillpipe. It
transmits torque from the rotary drilling table to the
drillstring.
Kelly bushing A special device that, when fitted into the master
bushing, transmits torque to the kelly and
simultaneously permits vertical movement of the kelly
to make hole.
Kerogen The solid, insoluble organic matter (fossilized), which
can be converted by distillation into petroleum
products.
Kick An entry of water, gas, oil, or other formation fluid
into the wellbore during drilling. If prompt action is
not taken to control the kick or kill the well, a
blowout may occur.
Kill a well To overcome pressure in a well by use of mud
or water so that surface connections may be
removed.
L
LACT Lease Automated Custody Transfer: fully automated
tank battery that records and ships oil and gas into
gathering pipeline.
Lacustrine Pertaining to lakes or deposits of lakes.
Latent heat of BTUs required to vaporize 1 lb of a liquid at its
vaporization atmospheric boiling point.
Leaching Pertaining to dissolution of soluble minerals or rocks.
Partial syn: Dissolution.
Least square method A statistical method for fitting a line, curve, or higher-
(LSM) degree surface to a set of data such that the sum of the
squares of the distances of data points to the fitted
line, etc. is minimized.