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Cash FlowGlossary Term

Capacity Charges

Fees paid to reserve a subcontractor's workforce or equipment availability, regardless of actual utilisation. Clients use these to secure priority access during peak demand periods. For subcontractors, they provide predictable revenue even during standby phases.

Related Terms

Tolling Agreement

Cash Flow

A contract where a subcontractor processes or treats a client's raw material using your equipment or facility, without taking ownership of it. You charge a fee for the service rather than buying and reselling the material. Common in midstream and processing work, it directly affects how you invoice and recognise revenue.

Quantity Drift

Cash Flow

The gradual increase or decrease in actual field quantities compared to original contract estimates. For subcontractors, untracked drift leads to unbilled work or disputed invoices at project close-out. Monitor quantities continuously to support change order claims.

Well Abandonment Liability

Cash Flow

The legal and financial obligation to properly plug and decommission a well at end of life. For subcontractors, unpaid invoices near abandonment projects carry higher collection risk. Operators may deprioritise vendor payments as they wind down a well's operations.

Material Escalation

Cash Flow

A contract provision allowing price adjustments when material costs rise above a set threshold. Subcontractors use it to recover cost increases on longer-duration projects. Without it, unexpected price spikes in steel, pipe, or consumables come directly out of your margin.

Capped-Call Transactions

Cash Flow

A financial tool used by larger contractors to manage costs when issuing convertible debt. It limits share dilution, helping protect company ownership structure. Subcontractors may see clients reference these when explaining capital raise decisions affecting project budgets.

Headline Inflation

Cash Flow

The overall rate of price increases across the economy, including fuel and materials. For subcontractors, it signals rising operating costs that may not be covered by fixed-rate contracts. Monitor it when renegotiating agreements or submitting bids.

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