Energy terminology · MLC-0117

Energy terms: O (116)

Occupancy sensorsThese are also known as "ultrasonic switchers." When movement is detected, the lights are turned on and...
Ocean energy systemsEnergy conversion technologies that harness the energy in tides, waves, and thermal gradients in the oceans.
Ocean thermal energy conversionThe process or technologies for producing energy by harnessing the temperature differences (thermal...
OctaneA flammable liquid hydrocarbon found in petroleum. Used as a standard to measure the anti-knock properties of...
Octane ratingA number used to indicate gasoline's antiknock performance in motor vehicle engines. The two recognized...
Off peakPeriod of relatively low system demand. These periods often occur in daily, weekly, and seasonal patterns...
Off peak gasGas that is to be delivered and taken on demand when demand is not at its peak.
Off-highway useIncludes petroleum products sales for use in:
Off-hours equipment reductionA conservation feature where there is a change in the temperature setting or reduction in the use of heating...
OffshoreThat geographic area that lies seaward of the coastline. In general, the coastline is the line of ordinary...
Offshore reserves and productionUnless otherwise dedicated, reserves and production that are in either state or Federal domains, located...
Off-site produced energy for heat, power, and electricity generationThis measure of energy consumption includes energy produced off-site and consumed on-site. It excludes...
Off-systemAny point not on or directly interconnected with a transportation, storage, and/or distribution system...
Offsystem (natural gas)Natural gas that is transported to the end user by the company making final delivery of the gas to the end...
OhmA measure of the electrical resistance of a material equal to the resistance of a circuit in which the...
Ohm's LawIn a given electrical circuit, the amount of current in amperes is equal to the pressure in volts divided by...
OilA mixture of hydrocarbons usually existing in the liquid state in natural underground pools or reservoirs...
Oil company useIncludes sales to drilling companies, pipelines or other related oil companies not engaged in the selling of...
Oil formation volume factorRatio of the volume of oil at reservoir conditions to the volume of oil at standard conditions (barrels per...
Oil from algaeOil processed from unicellular and multicellular algae harvested specifically to produce biofuel.
Oil reservoirAn underground pool of liquid consisting of hydrocarbons, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen trapped within a...
Oil shaleA sedimentary rock containing kerogen, a solid organic material.
Oil stocksOil stocks include crude oil (including strategic reserves), unfinished oils, natural gas plant liquids, and...
Oil wellA well completed for the production of crude oil from at least one oil zone or reservoir.
Oil well (casing head) gasAssociated and dissolved gas produced along with crude oil from oil completions.
Old fieldA field discovered prior to the report year.
Old reservoirA reservoir discovered prior to the report year.
Olefinic hydrocarbons (olefins)Unsaturated hydrocarbon compounds with the general formula CnH2n containing at least one carbon-to-carbon...
O&MOperation and Maintenance.
One sunNatural solar insulation falling on an object without concentration or diffusion of the solar rays.
One-time feeThe fee assessed a nuclear utility for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) or solidified high-level radioactive waste...
On-highway use (diesel)Includes sales for use in motor vehicles. Volumes used by companies in the marketing and distribution of...
On-peakPeriods of relatively high system demand. These periods often occur in daily, weekly, and seasonal patterns...
On-site generation for own useElectricity generated and consumed on-site.
Onsite transportationThe direct nonprocess end use that includes energy used in vehicles and transportation equipment that...
On-systemAny point on or directly interconnected with a transportation, storage, or distribution system operated by a...
Onsystem (natural gas)Natural gas that is sold (and transported) to the end user by the company making final delivery of the gas to...
On-system salesSales to customers where the delivery point is a point on, or directly interconnected with, a transportation...
Open accessA regulatory mandate to allow others to use a utility's transmission and distribution facilities to move bulk...
Open access (electric), see Open access
Open access transmission tariff (electric)Electronic transmission tariff accepted by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission requiring the...
Open market coalCoal sold in the open market (i.e., coal sold to companies other than in the reporting company’s parent...
Open refrigeration unitRefrigeration in cabinets (units) without covers or with flexible covers made of plastic or some other...
Operable capacityThe amount of capacity that, at the beginning of the period, is in operation; not in operation and not under...
Operable generators/unitsElectric generators or generating units that are available to provide power to the grid or generating units...
Operable nuclear unitA U.S. nuclear generating unit that has completed low-power testing and is in possession of a full-power...
Operable nuclear unit (foreign), see Operable nuclear unit
Operable refineriesRefineries that were in one of the following three categories at the beginning of a given year in operation...
Operable unitA unit available to provide electric power to the grid. See definition for operating unit.
Operable utilization rateRepresents the use of the atmospheric crude oil distillation units. The rate is calculated by dividing the...
OperatedExercised management responsibility for the day-to-day operations of natural gas production, gathering...
Operating capacityThe component of operable capacity that is in operation at the beginning of the period.
Operating dayA normal business day. Days when a company conducts business due to emergencies or other unexpected events...
Operating expensesSegment expenses related both to revenue from sales to unaffiliated customers and revenue from intersegment...
Operating incomeOperating revenues less operating expenses. Excludes items of other revenue and expense, such as equity in...
Operating revenuesSegment revenues both from sales to unaffiliated customers (i.e., revenue from customers outside the...
Operating subsidiaryCompany that operates a coal mining operation and is owned by another company (i.e., the parent company).
Operating unitA unit that is in operation at the beginning of the reporting period.
Operating utilization rateRepresents the use of the atmospheric crude oil distillation units. The rate is calculated by dividing the...
Operator, gas plantThe person responsible for the management and day-to-day operation of one or more natural gas processing...
Operator, oil and/or gas wellThe person responsible for the management and day-to-day operation of one or more crude oil and/or natural...
OPRGOxygenated fuels Program Reformulated Gasoline is reformulated gasoline that is intended for use in an...
Optional delivery commitmentA provision to allow the conditional purchase or sale of a specific quantity of material in addition to the...
OrderA ruling issued by a utility commission granting or denying an application in whole or in part. The order...
Organic contentThe share of a substance that is of animal or plant origin.
Organic wasteWaste material of animal or plant origin.
Organization for Economic Cooperation and DevelopmentAn international organization helping governments tackle the economic, social and governance challenges of a...
Organization of Petroleum Exporting CountriesAn intergovernmental organization whose stated objective is to "coordinate and unify the petroleum policies...
Original costThe initial amount of money spent to acquire an asset. It is equal to the price paid, or present value of the...
Original equipment manufacturerA company that provides the original design and materials for manufacture and engages in the assembly of...
Original equipment manufacturer vehicleA vehicle produced and marketed by an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), including gasoline and diesel...
Original gas-in-placeThe total volume of natural gas held in a reservoir before production begins.
Original oil-in-placeThe total volume of oil held in a reservoir before production begins.
OtherThe "other" category is defined as representing electricity consumers not elsewhere classified. This category...
Other agricultural and forestry productsBiofuel feedstock that is not corn, grain sorghum, agricultural and forestry residues and dedicated energy...
Other capital costsCosts for items or activities not included elsewhere under capital-cost tabulations, such as for and...
Other demand-side management (DSM) assistance programsA DSM program assistance that includes alternative-rate, fuel-switching, and any other DSM assistance...
Other end usersFor motor gasoline, all direct sales to end users other than those made through company outlets. For No. 2...
Other energy lossesEnergy losses throughout the energy system as they are consumed while converting energy to do work or to...
Other energy operationsEnergy operations not included under Petroleum or Coal. "Other energy" includes nuclear, oil shale, tar...
Other finishedMotor gasoline not included in the oxygenated or reformulated gasoline categories.
Other fuel alcoholAlcohol intended for fuel use that is not conventional, advanced, cellulosic and biobutanol, as used on Form...
Other gasIncludes manufactured gas, coke-oven gas, blast-furnace gas, and refinery gas. Manufactured gas is obtained...
Other generationElectricity originating from these sources biomass, fuel cells, geothermal heat, solar power, waste, wind...
Other hydrocarbonsMaterials received by a refinery and consumed as a raw material. Includes hydrogen, coal tar derivatives...
Other industrial plantIndustrial users, not including coke plants, engaged in the mechanical or chemical transformation of...
Other load managementDemand-Side Management (DSM) program other than Direct Load Control and Interruptible Load that limits or...
Other oils equal to or greater than 401 degrees FahrenheitOils with a boiling range equal to or greater than 401 degrees Fahrenheit that are intended for use as a...
Other operating costsCosts for other items or activities not included elsewhere in operating-cost tabulations, but required to...
Other oxygenatesOther aliphatic alcohols and aliphatic ethers intended for motor gasoline blending (e.g., isopropylether...
Other power producersIndependent power producers that generate electricity and cogeneration plants that are not included in the...
Other recycled feed and wasteBiofuel feedstock of recycled feed and waste that is not municipal solid waste or yard and food waste, as...
Other refinersRefiners with a total refinery capacity in the United States and its possessions of less than 275,000 barrels...
Other renewable fuelsRenewable fuel that is not renewable diesel fuel, renewable heating oil, renewable jet fuel, renewable...
Other service to public authoritiesElectricity supplied to municipalities, divisions or agencies of state or Federal governments, under special...
Other single-unit truckA motor vehicle consisting primarily of a single motorized device with more than two axles or more than four...
Other supply contractsAny contracted gas supply other than owned reserves, producer-contracted reserves, and interstate pipeline...
Other trucks/vansThose trucks and vans that weigh more than 8,500 lbs GVW.
Other unavailable capabilityNet capability of main generating units that are unavailable for load for reasons other than full-forced...
Other vegetable oilsBiofuel feedstock that is not canola oil, corn oil, palm oil, sorghum oil, or soybean oil, as used on Form...
Other waste oils, fats, or greasesBiofuel feedstock that is not poultry, tallow (beef), white grease (includes bacon grease), or yellow grease...
OutageThe period during which a generating unit, transmission line, or other facility is out of service.
Outer Continental ShelfOffshore Federal domain.
OutputThe amount of power or energy produced by a generating unit, station, or system.
OvenAn appliance that is an enclosed compartment supplied with heat and used for cooking food. Toaster ovens are...
OverburdenAny material, consolidated or unconsolidated, that overlies a coal deposit.
Overburden ratioOverburden ratio refers to the amount of overburden that must be removed to excavate a given quantity of...
Overriding royaltyA royalty interest, in addition to the basic royalty, created out of the working interest; it is, therefore...
Owned reservesAny reserve of natural gas that the reporting company owns as a result of oil and gas leases, fee-mineral...
Owned/rented(As used in EIA's consumption surveys.) The relationship of a housing unit's occupants to the structure...
Owner occupied(As used in EIA's consumption surveys.) Having the owner or the owner's business represented at the site. A...
Owners equityInterest of the owners in the assets of the business represented by capital contributions and retained...
Ownership of building(As used in EIA's consumption surveys.) The individual, agency, or organization that owns the building. For...
OxidizeTo chemically transform a substance by combining it with oxygen.
Oxygenated gasolineFinished motor gasoline, other than reformulated gasoline, having an oxygen content of 2.7percent or higher...
Oxygenated gasoline (includes Gasohol), see Oxygenated gasoline
OxygenatesSubstances which, when added to gasoline, increase the amount of oxygen in that gasoline blend. Fuel ethanol...
OzoneA molecule made up of three atoms of oxygen. Occurs naturally in the stratosphere and provides a protective...
Ozone precursorsChemical compounds, such as carbon monoxide, methane, non methane hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides, which in...

116 of 2,500 terms in Energy terminology (MLC-0117). Request the full dataset.