ISO 1998-3:1998

Overview

ISO 1998-3:1998 - Petroleum industry - Terminology - Part 3: Exploration and production is an international terminology standard published by ISO in 1998. It provides a bilingual (English/French) list of equivalent terms and corresponding definitions used in the petroleum industry specifically for exploration and production activities. This part is a recast of earlier ISO 1998 editions and is designed to promote clear, consistent use of oil and gas terminology across documents, contracts, training and technical communications.

Key topics and requirements

• Bilingual terminology: Entries present equivalent English and French terms with corresponding definitions to ensure consistent understanding in both languages.
• Scope focus: Covers terminology relating to exploration and production of crude oils and petroleum products - from production field activities to the final user. It is not intended to replace the terminology of petroleum equipment or all on‑field operations, except where an equipment term appears in a product/process definition and is needed to avoid ambiguity.
• Classification and numbering: Uses a structured term-numbering scheme (x.yy.zzz) where x is the ISO 1998 part (here Part 3), yy is the subcategory indicator (Part 3 primarily uses “01”), and zzz is the serial number of the term. Terms are listed in serial number order.
• Normative linkage: References ISO 1998-99 (General and index) for indexing and cross-references. The standard was prepared by ISO/TC 28, Subcommittee SC 1 (Terminology).
• Clarity and consistency: The standard’s primary requirement is precise definition of industry terms (examples in the extract include “crude oil stabilization,” “appraisal wells,” “enhanced oil recovery,” and “casing”), reducing ambiguity in technical and contractual contexts.

Applications and users

Who uses ISO 1998-3:

• Oil & gas operators and exploration teams producing technical reports and well documentation
• Technical writers, translators and terminologists who prepare bilingual manuals, procedures and contracts
• Regulatory bodies, legal teams and procurement groups that require unambiguous term definitions in legislation or contracts
• Training organizations and academic programs teaching petroleum exploration and production terminology
• Software and data‑management teams building glossaries, metadata schemas or controlled vocabularies for E&P systems

Practical benefits:

• Improves communication across international teams and vendors
• Reduces misinterpretation in contracts, safety documents and technical specifications
• Supports harmonized documentation and metadata for databases and information systems

Related standards

• ISO 1998-1: Raw materials and products
• ISO 1998-2: Properties and tests
• ISO 1998-4: Refining
• ISO 1998-5: Transport, storage, distribution
• ISO 1998-6: Measurement
• ISO 1998-7: Miscellaneous terms
• ISO 1998-99: General and index (normative reference)
• For petroleum equipment terminology: see ISO/TC 67 (Materials, equipment and offshore structures for petroleum and natural gas industries)

Keywords: ISO 1998-3, petroleum terminology, exploration and production, oil and gas terms, bilingual glossary, E&P standard, ISO terminology.