Explicitation Paths in the Translation of Laboratory Procedural Elements
—A Case Study of Petroleum Core Analysis Manuals.

Laboratory procedural texts are a critical component of petroleum technical manuals, and their translation quality directly affects the execution of experiments and operational safety. Such texts often involve extensive dynamic operational processes (e.g., core cutting, Soxhlet extraction, Dean-Stark distillation) and implicitly incorporate logical sequences such as “when to operate, who operates, and how to operate.” Ambiguities in translation may lead to discontinuous procedures, unclear accountability, or safety hazards. This paper focuses on the “core preparation and fluid saturation determination” section in petroleum core analysis manuals and proposes a translation strategy termed “explicitation of operational-chain elements.” This approach breaks down operational procedures into five core elements: trigger conditions, operational agent, action specifications, safety constraints, and out-come metrics. Through case studies including Soxhlet extraction, direct solvent injection, and critical-point drying, the pathways for explicating each element are illustrated. Practice shows that techniques such as adding cohesive devices, converting voice, and quantifying parameters can effectively resolve issues like “implicit logic,” “ambiguous responsibility,” and “inadequate risk warning.” This provides a practical and safety-aware reference for translating similar operational texts in technical manuals.