A legal right allowing access to land owned by someone else for a specific purpose, such as running pipelines or power lines. Subcontractors must confirm easement boundaries before mobilising equipment or breaking ground. Working outside easement limits can trigger legal liability and project shutdowns.
Easement
Related Terms
Flowback
IndustryThe initial release of fluids, sand, and gases from a wellbore after hydraulic fracturing, which requires specialised crews and equipment on-site to manage, separate, and dispose of the returned materials safely. For field service subcontractors, flowback operations represent a distinct scope of work with dedicated mobilisation requirements and often involve tight scheduling windows tied to the operator's completion timeline.
Default Order
IndustryA purchase or work order automatically issued to a subcontractor when a client's primary vendor cannot fulfil a job. It serves as a backup contract, so subcontractors should confirm scope and rates before accepting. Default orders may come with tighter mobilisation timelines.
Interconnection Delay
IndustryA postponement caused by unfinished grid or pipeline tie-in work that prevents a facility from going live. For subcontractors, it often means demobilisation holds, scope gaps, or standby costs with no clear end date. Document all waiting time carefully to support delay claims or change orders.
Intervention Vessel
IndustryA specialised ship used to perform maintenance, repair, or remediation work on subsea wells and pipelines. Subcontractors are often mobilised to these vessels for ROV operations, well work, or equipment installation. Scheduling and access are tightly controlled by the operator.
Lng (liquefied Natural Gas) Train
IndustryA single end-to-end processing unit that cools natural gas into liquid form for storage and export. Large LNG facilities run multiple trains, each requiring dedicated construction, maintenance, and shutdown crews. Subcontractors are typically mobilised per train, making scope and schedule highly compartmentalised.
On-Dock Rail
IndustryA rail line built directly inside a port terminal, allowing freight to transfer between ships and railcars without trucking. For subcontractors, this affects equipment and material delivery timelines on import-heavy projects. Factor it into your mobilisation planning when staging gear through coastal terminals.
Latest Industry News
Army Corps Grants Dakota Access Easement, Opening Door to Long-Term Pipeline Operations
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has approved a key easement allowing the Dakota Access Pipeline to continue operating its Missouri River crossing, with new safety conditions attached. The decision locks in long-term maintenance and inspection work for pipeline service companies across the region.
5 months agoIndustryPermian Judge Rules Old Lease Agreements Control Horizontal Wells Drilled Across Legacy Boundaries
A Midland court ruling that legacy oilfield contracts govern horizontal wells could reshape how subcontractors interpret surface access rights, easement terms, and contract scope across the Permian Basin.
6 months agoIndustryJacobs-PCL Wins $1B SF Plant Upgrade Built Around Live Operations
SFPUC picked a Jacobs-PCL joint venture for a $1 billion progressive design-build nutrient reduction project at its largest treatment plant. The plant must keep running during construction, which shapes how subs should pursue early involvement.
11 hours agoIndustryAEP Lifts Capital Plan 30% to $100B as Data Center Load Hits 84 GW
AEP raised its five-year capital plan to $100 billion, with $37 billion for transmission and $20 billion for gas generation. A 10.4-GW Ohio data center campus drives the load growth, and three 765-kV lines are slated for 2028 through 2030.
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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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