Glossaire :Paralic basin [...] Pyrolysis unit

Paralic basin (see the French definition ): Sedimentary basin near the coast that can take the form of a large lagoon, for example.
Passive Solar Architecture (see the French definition ): A means of capturing, storing and distributing solar energy that can operate independently and without any external energy supply.
Permeability (see the French definition ): A property of rocks relating to the ability of liquids to circulate inside them. For hydrocarbons to fill a reservoir, the reservoir has to be permeable. This characteristic is also very important for pumping capacity and production capacity of the oil or gas to be extracted from the reservoir. The unit of measurement of permeability is the darcy (D), where the submultiple millidarcy (mD) is most commonly used.
Petrochemistry (see the French definition ): Petrochemistry is the chemistry of oil derivatives. It is used to manufacture many everyday products that are not naturally occurring.
Petroleum cut (petroleum fraction) (see the French definition ): A petroleum cut (fraction) is a constituent of oil collected in a distillation tower. During the refining process, crude oil is heated to 370°C before transfer to a column where it separates naturally. The lightest fractions are gases (e.g. butane, propane) and naphtha, which go to the top of the column. The levels below are where kerosene, diesel and fuel are obtained. The heaviest components gather at the bottom to be redistilled and used to produce heavy fuel, bitumen and lubricants.
Photo cell (photovoltaic cell) (see the French definition ): A device that converts light energy from the sun into electric current.
Photon (see the French definition ): Photons are light particles. It is particularly because of the photons in the sun’s rays that solar energy can be converted into electricity (using photovoltaic devices).
Photosynthesis (see the French definition ): Photosynthesis is the process by which plants (under the action of sunlight) transform CO2 and water into plant matter. The plant matter is mainly composed of carbon and oxygen. This is quite simply what enables them to grow!
Photovoltaic cell (see the French definition ): A photovoltaic or solar cell is an electronic component which converts energy from sunlight into electricity. A photovoltaic cell is made of silicon, a semi-conductor. When photons (light particles) penetrate this material, the electrons in the silicon atoms move. This movement produces an electric current that can be used to power appliances and equipment.
Photovoltaic collector (see the French definition ): A photovoltaic collector is made from a series of photovoltaic cells, themselves made of many thin layers of silicon (a kind of gray-brown metal with conduction properties). When placed on a solar panel, the collector uses the silicon in the cells to convert the sun’s rays into electricity.
Photovoltaic panel (see the French definition ): This kind of solar power system is made of parallel rows of long, curved reflectors called parabolic panels. Like sunflowers, they rotate around a horizontal axis to follow the course of the sun. They collect energy from sunlight and redistribute it in an electricity or heat production circuit.
Pipelines (oil or gas pipes) (see the French definition ): Pipelines (oil or gas pipes)
Platform (see the French definition ): An oil platform is a structure that either floats offshore or is fixed to the sea bed and is used to explore or mine marine deposits of oil or gas.
Polymerization (see the French definition ): Polymerization is an incredible kind of chemical reaction. When placed under specific temperature and pressure conditions and when a catalyst is present, some unsaturated hydrocarbon molecules (monomers) will suddenly come together to form one larger molecule called a polymer.
Porosity (see the French definition ): The sedimentary rocks in a reservoir to which the oil and gas migrate settle at the bottom of the water as grains (e.g. gravel, sand). The porosity of a rock measures the gaps between these grains. The more porous a rock, the more oil or gas that can accumulate in those gaps (like a sponge). Porosity is measured as a % of the total rock volume.
Potential (see the French definition ): A deposit’s potential is the measure of the hydrocarbon reserves that could be extracted from it.
Preservation (see the French definition ): Preservation is one of the 7 stages in oil system formation. Once the hydrocarbons have accumulated in a trap, they must then be preserved. Some conditions are essential for preservation: the oil is safe as long as the temperature remains above 50°C, otherwise bacteria can develop, causing trap deterioration. The ground must also remain stable and not suffer any tectonic plate movement.
Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) (see the French definition ): A pressurized water reactor (PWR) involves a heat-transfer fluid transferring the heat produced to another fluid (water) by means of a steam generator. The steam produced in this way drives a turbine, which produces electricity. This “second generation” nuclear reactor is the most widely used reactor in the world (producing 60% of electricity worldwide) and notably in France, the UK and Belgium, for example.
Primary energy (see the French definition ): Primary energy is all energy sources that have not undergone any conversion process and thus remain in their raw state (e.g. crude oil, natural gas, sunlight).
Primary system (see the French definition ): A reactor in a nuclear power station has 3 circuits. The first circuit is the primary system which captures the heat that is produced by interactions between uranium and neutrons.
Production (see the French definition ): The commercial exploitation phase of a hydrocarbon deposit.
Production Sharing Arrangement (see the French definition ): The oil that is extracted is shared between the producing State and the operating company. The company is first repaid in oil for the exploration and production costs (this is called “cost oil”). The remaining money is then shared at a ratio of approx. 82% for the oil-producing country to 18% for the oil company (“profit oil”). It is the producing country that sets the production rates. This type of contract is the subject of hard bargaining. The assessment of costs is consistently rounded down by the experts of the oil-producing country.
Prospect (see the French definition ): A prospect is a potential hydrocarbon trap. The objective of the engineers is to locate them and to describe their geometry, the amount of oil that they could contain and the probability of discovering oil there.
Proton (see the French definition ): A proton is a positively charged particle. Protons and neutrons form the nucleus of an atom.
Pumping (see the French definition ): Pumping is an assisted oil and gas recovery technique. Surface pumps (beam pumps) are used or deep-well pumps (electric submersible pumps, ESP) which are more expensive but also more efficient.
Pyrolysis (see the French definition ): Pyrolysis is the reaction whereby wood decomposes through the application of heat (400°C).
Pyrolysis unit (see the French definition ): Pyrolysis is the chemical decomposition that takes place under heat and in the absence of oxygen. Pyrolysis units are used to produce coal derivatives that can replace charcoal (special cokes).