How to Look Up a Term in The SLB Energy Glossary

Updated

To look up a term, open glossary.slb.com and use either the search box or the A–Z letter menu on the "Explore the Energy Glossary" page. The A–Z menu lists every letter from a to z and browses terms by their first letter; search is faster when you already know the term. Both routes lead to reviewed definitions, but some entries sit behind a login, so a term may be listed yet not readable without an SLB account.

Two Ways to Find a Term

Browse with the A–Z menu

  1. Go to glossary.slb.com. The landing page is headed "Explore the Energy Glossary."
  2. Find the line "Look up terms beginning with:" and the a–z letter row beneath it.
  3. Select the first letter of your term. The glossary opens the list of entries starting with that letter.
  4. Choose the term from the list to read its definition.

This works well when you know only roughly what you are looking for — for example, scanning the "p" entries for a drilling term whose exact name you cannot recall.

Search for a known term

  1. Use the Search control in the glossary menu at the top of the page.
  2. Enter the term and open the matching entry.

Search is the quicker route when you have the exact term, including multi-word phrases.

What You Get on a Term Page

Definitions are written for both technical generalists and specialists, and SLB technical experts review them "to ensure accuracy while maintaining objectivity." The glossary has grown since 1998 and now holds more than 4,800 definitions, updated as technologies and industry topics change — so a term you looked up a year ago may have a revised entry.

When a Term Is Locked

Some entries are premium. If you hit one, the page shows "Sorry, you do not have access to this content" and explains that premium content requires special account permissions. Downloading a file prompts a sign-in to a Schlumberger account, with a sign-up option for those without one.

What you see What it means What to do
Term page opens normally Standard definition Read it directly
"Sorry, you do not have access to this content" Premium entry; account permissions missing Sign in, or complete account setup as prompted
Sign-in prompt on download File download requires a Schlumberger account Log in or sign up

The site does not state that premium access is free, so treat a login prompt as a permissions step rather than a formality.

Practical Tips

  • Start with the letter, not the phrase. The A–Z menu is organized by first letter only, so browse by the term's opening letter even for multi-word entries.
  • Try the acronym's first letter. Energy terminology is full of abbreviations; if the spelled-out form does not surface, browse the letter the abbreviation starts with.
  • Check the language toggle. The menu offers English and Español, useful if you want to compare wording across languages.
  • Expect updates. Because entries are revised as the industry evolves, cite the glossary with the date you accessed it if you are using a definition in your own work.

For a quick answer, search; for exploration or a half-remembered term, the A–Z menu is the more reliable path.