Dictionary
Exploitation
(depletion, production), retrieving natural wealth; recovery of petroleum and natural gas.
Ecological fuel
fuel for internal combustion engines (petrol and diesel fuel) with a minimum sulphur content. ‘’Pure fuels’’ must be unleaded and sulphur-free due to the fact that these substances harm or undermine the operation of modern engines and auxiliary devices (catalysts), which are constructed so as to lower the emission of dangerous, ‘’greenhouse’’ gases (carbon II-oxide, methane, nitrogen oxide etc.) that pollute the atmosphere as a whole and are probably the cause of global warming.
Eruption
controlled seepage of petroleum, natural gas and water through a well by well pressure; uncontrolled eruption: free seepage of fluid from underground through a well to the surface.
Eruptive rocks
(volcanic, igneous), rocks that are the result of cooling and crystallisation of magma (melt).
Ethane
gaseous hydrocarbon (<strong>C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub></strong>) produced by the treatment of natural or refinery gas when planned to be used as feedstock for the production of ethylene.
Eterification
reaction of olefin and alcohol resulting in ether. If isobutylenes such as methanol react, then methyl isobutyl ether (<strong>MTBE</strong>) is produced, with excellent antiknock (detonator) characteristics, that is, a high octane number, which makes it an excellent petrol component.
Ethylene
unsaturated hydrocarbon (C2H4), colourless gas produced by processing ethane, propane, petrol etc.; feedstock for further petrochemical refining (plastic mass).
Greenhouse effect
due to pollution by harmful gases (greenhouse gases), the atmosphere has become more permeable to the sun's rays (solar radiation and ultra-violet radiation), while at the same time it cools with more difficultly because it is permeable to heat (infrared) radiation into space; the result is generally warmer weather on Earth.
Oil equivalent
(OE), (with equal value), unit quantity of petroleum in comparison to quantities of other energy sources of equal energetic value: 1 t of petroleum is equal to (approximately) 11,000 mt of natural gas as well as 1.4 t of pit coal, or to 4.7 t of heating wood where energy is concerned.