A budgeting document used in oil and gas projects that outlines expected costs and seeks approval before work begins. Subcontractors often work under AFEs issued by operators.
AFE (Authorization for Expenditure)
Related Terms
Hot Shot
IndustryExpedited delivery service for equipment, parts, or materials to remote job sites. Often used for urgent oilfield deliveries.
FPSO (Floating Production, Storage and Offloading Unit)
IndustryA ship-shaped offshore vessel that processes and stores crude oil or gas directly at sea, then transfers it to tankers — for subcontractors, FPSOs represent remote, long-duration worksites with strict offshore safety certification requirements, specialised crew rotation logistics, and scope that can span topside maintenance, marine systems, and instrumentation work simultaneously.
Subsea Tieback
IndustryA pipeline or flow line system that connects a new offshore wellhead or satellite field back to an existing production facility or platform, allowing operators to develop remote reserves without building standalone infrastructure. For subcontractors, tiebacks often involve specialised subsea installation, inspection, and maintenance scopes that require certified divers, ROV crews, or subsea engineering support.
EOR (Enhanced Oil Recovery)
IndustryA set of advanced extraction techniques—such as steam injection, chemical flooding, or CO2 injection—used to pull additional crude from mature or low-yield reservoirs, which drives demand for specialised field service crews, equipment operators, and maintenance contractors on long-term site assignments.
Midstream
IndustryThe segment of the oil and gas industry involved in processing, storing, and transporting oil, gas, and NGLs. Includes pipelines, gathering systems, and processing plants.
Pressure Pumping
IndustryA well stimulation service involving the high-pressure injection of fluids — such as fracturing fluid, cement, or acid — into a wellbore to improve production or complete the well; for subcontractors, it represents a specialised, equipment-intensive scope of work that typically requires certified operators, dedicated pump trucks, and close coordination with the primary operator on site.
Latest Industry News
EIA Raises US Oil Production Forecast as WTI Price Outlook Jumps to $74
The EIA's March 2026 Short-Term Energy Outlook projects US crude production reaching 13.83 million boe/d in 2027, a 4% upward revision driven by sharply higher WTI price forecasts. Here's what that means for subcontractors pricing work and planning capacity.
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Brazilian operator PRIO has completed installation and received its operating license for the Wahoo field in the Campos basin, with first oil expected within days via a subsea tie-back to the FPSO Frade.
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The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted 8-7 to advance Markwayne Mullin's nomination as DHS secretary, with a full Senate confirmation vote expected the week of March 23. Here's what a leadership change at DHS could mean for subcontractors.
20 hours ago IndustryTulsa Data Center Campus Decision Pushed to April After Planning Commission Delay
Tulsa's Planning Commission delayed a rezoning vote on the proposed Project Anthem data center campus, pushing a decision to April 1. City staff had already recommended denial of the 300-acre proposal.
20 hours agoStay sharp on field operations
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