Oil and Gas Industry Activities

The oil and gas industry facilities and activities are broadly defined, according to their use in the oil and gas industry production stream:

Exploration:

Includes prospecting, seismic and drilling activities that take place before the development of a field is finally decided.

Upstream:

Typically refers to all facilities for production and stabilization of oil and gas. The reservoir and drilling community often uses upstream for the wellhead, well, completion and reservoir only, and downstream of the wellhead as production or processing. Exploration and upstream/production together is referred to as E&P.

Midstream:

Broadly defined as gas treatment, LNG production and regasification plants, and oil and gas pipeline systems.

Refining:

Where oil and condensates are processed into marketable products with defined specifications such as gasoline, diesel or feedstock for the petrochemical industry. Refinery offsites such as tank storage and distribution terminals are included in this segment, or may be part of a separate distributions operation.

Petrochemical:

These products are chemical products where the main feedstock is hydrocarbons. Examples are plastics, fertilizer and a wide range of industrial chemicals.