Drill-And-Blast

CBM (Coal Bed Methane) is natural gas extracted from coal seams rather than conventional reservoirs. Field crews typically handle dewatering operations, pipeline tie-ins, and wellsite maintenance on CBM projects. Work is often spread across large numbers of shallow, closely spaced wells requiring frequent travel between sites.

A bearing that uses rolling elements — balls or rollers — to reduce friction between moving parts. Common in pumps, motors, and rotating equipment on job sites. Subcontractors should inspect and replace these during scheduled maintenance to avoid unplanned downtime.

A self-propelled vessel equipped with a drilling rig used for offshore exploration and production in deepwater locations, which subcontractors may be mobilised to for specialised services such as equipment maintenance, inspection, or crew support under strict offshore safety and logistical requirements.

A major tight-oil producing region spanning North Dakota, Montana, and southern Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Subcontractors working here should expect high-volume horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracturing scopes. Seasonal road bans and remote logistics significantly impact crew mobilisation and equipment scheduling.

The percentage of scheduled time that equipment is operational and available for use on a job site. For subcontractors, high uptime directly affects billing hours, client satisfaction, and contract renewals. Downtime caused by mechanical failure or poor maintenance often falls on the subcontractor to remedy at their own cost.

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.

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.

How 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.

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.