Glossary of Terms - D

The glossary of terms is arranged alphabetically. Click on the letters below to find terms beginning with that letter.

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

Degree Days: One way to calculate heating or cooling value is by adding a particular day's high and low temperatures, dividing by two, and subtracting that average temperature from a base level (the National Weather Service uses 65 degrees for heating).

Dekatherm (Dth): A unit of heating value equal to 10 Therms or one million Btu's (1 MMBtu). Very roughly, 1 Mcf = 1 MMBtu = 1 Dth (or dt).

Delivery Point: For a pipeline, the delivery point is where sales or transportation gas exits the system. For a producer it can be the point where gas goes into the pipeline, and would be synonymous with the pipeline's "receipt point." Sometimes these are called the delivery point and the redelivery point.

Demand Charge: The portion of a gas or transportation charge that reflects a customer's contract requirements. Usually a set monthly fee, based on contract requirements.

Derivative: A financial instrument that derives its value from an underlying security.

Displacement: The method by which equivalent volumes of gas are delivered from one point on a pipeline's system to another point without a continuous flow of molecules from the first point to the second. Backhauls are one form of displacement.

Downstream Pipeline: A pipeline closer to the market as opposed to an upstream pipeline, which is closer to the production area.