A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Offshore - That geographic area that lies seaward of the coastline. In general, the coastline is the line of ordinary low water along with that portion of the coast that is in direct contact with the open sea or the line marking the seaward limit of inland water. If a State agency uses a different basis for classifying onshore and offshore areas, the State classification should be used. (Cook Inlet in Alaska is classified as offshore.)

Oil Shale - A sedimentary rock containing kerogen, a solid organic material.

Operating Expenses - Segment expenses related both to revenue from sales to unaffiliated customers and revenue from inter-segment sales or transfers, excluding loss on disposition of property, plant, and equipment; interest expenses and financial charges; foreign currency translation effects; minority interest; and income taxes.

Operating Income - Operating revenues less operating expenses. Excludes items of other revenue and expense, such as equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates, dividends, interest income and expense, income taxes, extraordinary items, and cumulative effect of accounting changes.

Operating Revenues - Segment revenues from both sales to unaffiliated customers and inter-segment sales or transfers; any product and service similar to those sold to unaffiliated customers, excluding equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates; dividend and interest income; gain on disposition of property, plant, and equipment; and foreign currency translation effects.

Other Energy Operations - Energy operations not included in Petroleum or Coal. Other Energy includes nuclear, oil shale, tar sands, coal liquefaction and gasification, geothermal, solar, and other forms of non-conventional energy.

Outage - An interruption in service. Also referred to as a blackout.

Oxygenates - Any substance which, when added to gasoline, increases the amount of oxygen in that gasoline blend. Through a series of waivers and interpretive rules, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has determined the allowable 'limits' for oxygenates in unleaded gasoline. The 'Substantially Similar' Interpretive Rules (56 FR (February 11, 1991)) allows blends of aliphatic alcohol other than methanol and aliphatic ethers, provided the oxygen content does not exceed 2.7 percent by weight. The 'Substantially Similar' Interpretive Rules also provide for blends of methanol up to 0.3 percent by volume exclusive of other oxygenates, and butanol or alcohol of a higher molecular weight up to 2.75 percent by weight. Individual waiver pertaining to the use of oxygenates in unleaded gasoline have been issued by the EPA. They include: Fuel Ethanol. Blends of up to 10 percent by volume anhydrous ethanol (200 proof) (commonly referred to as the 'gasohol waiver'). Methanol. Blends of methanol and gasoline- grade tertiary butyl alcohol (GTBA) such that the total oxygen content does not exceed 3.5 percent by weight and the ratio of methanol to GTBA is less than or equal to 1. It is also specified that this blended fuel must meet American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) volatility specifications (commonly referred to as the 'ARCO' waiver). Blends of up to 5.0 percent by volume methanol with a minimum of 3.5 percent by volume co-solvent alcohol having a carbon number of 4 or less (i.e., ethanol, propanol, butanol, and/or GTBA). The total oxygen must not exceed 3.7 percent by weight, and the blend must meet ASTM volatility specifications as well as phase separation and purity specifications (commonly referred to as the 'DuPont' waiver). MTBE (Methyl tertiary butyl ether). Blends up to 15 percent by volume MTBE that must meet the ASTM D4814 specifications. Blenders must take precautions that the blends are not used as base gasoline for other oxygenated blends (commonly referred to as the 'Sun' waiver).