The phase of oil and gas well development after drilling is finished, encompassing the work required to prepare a well for production — including perforating, fracturing, and installing wellhead equipment. For subcontractors, completions represent a concentrated burst of high-demand field work where specialised crews, equipment, and services are mobilised under tight timelines.
Completions
Related Terms
Spillway
IndustryA controlled channel or outlet designed to safely redirect excess water away from a work site. Subcontractors may be responsible for installing, maintaining, or working around spillways during site grading, civil, or environmental scopes.
TIPRO (Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association)
IndustryA Texas-based trade group representing independent oil and gas producers. Subcontractors use TIPRO resources to track regulatory changes and identify potential operator clients. Membership in related networks can open doors to new field service contracts.
Custody Transfer
IndustryThe formal handover point where ownership or responsibility for a measured quantity of oil, gas, or other product moves from one party to another — typically triggering billing, invoicing, or contractual obligations for subcontractors involved in metering, transport, or handling operations. Field service crews working custody transfer points must ensure measurements are accurate and fully documented, as discrepancies can directly affect client invoices and liability.
Workover
IndustryOperations performed on an existing well to restore, maintain, or improve production. Includes activities like recompletions, artificial lift installation, and remedial cementing.
Service Company
IndustryA company that provides specialized services to oil and gas operators, such as drilling, completions, workover, transportation, or maintenance. Also called oilfield services (OFS).
Earn-In Agreement
IndustryA deal where a subcontractor gains equity or a stake in a project by completing defined work or spending milestones. Common in junior oil and gas ventures where cash is tight. Your services effectively buy you into the asset rather than just earning a fee.
Latest Industry News
Mi4's RigReports Brings Drilling, Completions and Workover Data onto One Platform
Mi4's cloud-based RigReports application centralizes daily drilling reports, completions, workover and facility job data in a single platform, aiming to cut administrative overhead for operators.
5 months agoIndustryFreshet Systems Launches 30,000 m³ Modular Frac Water Storage Tank Targeting Modern Completions Scale
Alberta startup Freshet Systems has introduced a modular above-ground water storage system capable of 20,000 to 50,000 m³, designed to bridge the gap between small temporary tanks and costly permanent reservoirs in hydraulic fracturing operations.
3 months agoIndustryRecord-Low DUC Backlog Signals New Drilling, Not Completions, Will Drive Shale Output
U.S. shale producers are sitting on a record-low inventory of drilled-but-uncompleted wells, limiting their ability to quickly ramp output as exports and refinery demand surge.
3 months agoIndustryTalos Energy advances Gulf of Mexico drilling with new well completions and appraisal plans
Talos Energy drilled the CPN well in Q1 2026 with production expected in H2 2026, while planning a Daenerys appraisal well for Q2 2026 in the US Gulf of Mexico.
6 months agoRelated Guides
How Operator Mergers and Acquisitions Affect Your Subcontract Agreements
When operators merge, get acquired, or sell assets, subcontractor agreements are caught in the middle. Learn how M&A activity affects your MSA, payment terms, vendor status, and what to do before, during, and after a deal closes.
Industry GuideHow Rig Count Trends Affect Subcontractor Demand and What to Do About It
Rig counts are the earliest signal of where field service work is heading. Learn how to read drilling activity trends, anticipate demand shifts, and position your crew before the phone stops ringing.
Industry GuideWhat Is an AFE in Oil and Gas and How Does It Affect Subcontractor Payments?
An AFE (Authorization for Expenditure) controls every dollar spent on an oilfield project. Learn how it affects your billing, change orders, and cash flow as a subcontractor.
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