CRA (Corrosion Resistant Alloy)

A vessel or system used on oil and gas sites to remove CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) from produced gas or water streams. Subcontractors are often hired to install, service, and inspect these units. Proper handling requires H2S and pressure safety training.

A rise in stored crude oil inventories, signalling weak demand or oversupply. This often triggers operators to slow production, which can delay or reduce field service work orders. Subcontractors should monitor stock build trends as an early indicator of project slowdowns.

A government-held emergency stockpile of crude oil that, when released or replenished, can trigger short-term surges in drilling, transportation, and maintenance contracts as operators respond to shifting supply directives. Field service companies should monitor SPR activity as an indicator of near-term work mobilisation and pricing conditions in their region.

Collectively referred to as URF, these are the subsea infrastructure components that connect wellheads to production facilities — umbilicals carry control fluids and signals, risers bring production to surface, and flowlines move product along the seabed — subcontractors are commonly engaged for their installation, inspection, maintenance, and integrity management work. Understanding the distinctions between these systems helps field crews accurately scope work orders, apply correct certifications, and bill against the right line items in offshore or subsea contracts.

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.

A safety and compliance management system used by some operators to pre-qualify and manage contractors working on their sites.

What 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.