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Christmas tree (oil and gas)

Categories: Tech

Picture a decorated Christmas tree. It’s got the triangle tree shape, with knobs here and there from decorations. Oil and gas wells are a tangle of valves, pipes, and fittings that when completed, are shaped similarly to a Christmas tree. You’d find this formation in oil and gas wells, including injection and disposal.

The assembly as a whole provides the pressure to the well and the ability to control the injection of chemicals. Often, it’s referred to as a wellhead, but the two terms aren't quite interchangeable. For example, trees can’t be used without a wellhead, but the wellhead can be used without the tree if there is no great need for controlling pressure or a pump being used.

Find other enlightening terms in Shmoop Finance Genius Bar(f)