Absorbent Boom: Similar in structure to a containment boom, but with additional absorbent materials attached that will absorb oil from the surface of the water and aid in clean up. Absorbent boom is usually more effective when applied to very thin oil sheens. Once the boom has absorbed oil it is collected and properly disposed of onshore.

Barrel: Equals 42 US gallons and is used as a measure of crude oil and other petroleum products. Elsewhere, oil is commonly measured in cubic meters (m3) or in tonnes (t). One cubic meter is equal to approximately 6.3 barrels.

Cement Plug: A cement plug is an obstruction made from cement that permanently isolates the subsurface oil and gas reservoir from the surface or seabed. A cement plug is made by pumping cement into a well where it hardens to permanently cap the well.

Containment Boom: A floating chain of inflatable "pillows" that are able to isolate and limit the movement of oil that is floating on the water surface, within an area enclosed by that boom. Once isolated and contained, the oil can then be more easily removed with skimmers and absorbent material. Booms are used extensively in offshore oil spill situations, where oil is floating on water.

Drilling Mud: Drilling mud is a mineral-based product commonly used to facilitate the drilling process that is commonly used in the industry and is approved by relevant authorities.

Oil "Fingerprinting": The process used to identify oil traits and origins. Crude oil is composed of many different hydrocarbon molecules in different relative proportions and combinations. Most crude oil deposits have a different combination of hydrocarbon molecules, just as each person has a unique set of fingerprints, that can help identify which oil accumulation was the source of that crude oil. By analyzing the hydrocarbon makeup of an oil sample, scientists can often determine the specific identity, or source, of that oil.

Side-scan SONAR: Side-scan SONAR (Sound Navigation And Ranging), is technology similar to radar but adapted to underwater applications; it provides an underwater picture of seabed contours and objects located on the seabed.

Skimmers: Skimmers are boats that are especially equipped to skim off the top layer of water and oil mixture as they move slowly through the water, coalescing, capturing and storing oil and oily water that float on the surface.