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IndustryGlossary Term

Epc (engineering, Procurement, and Construction) Contractor

A company hired to deliver a project from design through build, acting as the main contractor above subcontractors. As a subcontractor, your client and contract holder is typically the EPC, not the asset owner. They control scope, scheduling, and invoice approval on site.

Related Terms

Run Schedule

Industry

A timeline that outlines when specific tools, equipment, or crews are deployed downhole or on-site during an operation, dictating when a subcontractor's services are required and for how long. For field service companies, the run schedule directly determines mobilisation timing, crew rotations, and invoiceable hours on location.

Heat Tracing

Industry

A system of electric cables or steam lines wrapped around pipes to prevent freezing or maintain process temperatures. Subcontractors are often hired to install, inspect, and commission these systems during turnarounds or new construction. Common in cold-climate facilities handling water lines, instrumentation, and process piping.

Processing Train

Industry

A series of vessels and equipment that separates wellhead fluids into oil, gas, and water. Subcontractors are often scoped to one train at a time, so know which train your work order covers. Shutdowns or upsets on your train can directly affect your crew's schedule and completion milestones.

Asset Integrity

Industry

The ongoing process of ensuring equipment and structures perform their intended function safely and efficiently. For subcontractors, it drives demand for inspection, maintenance, and repair scopes across the project lifecycle. Clients often mandate documented asset integrity programmes before awarding field service contracts.

Metallographic Replication

Industry

A non-destructive field technique used to examine the microstructure of in-service metal components without removing them. Technicians apply a softened acetate film to a polished surface, then analyse the hardened impression under a microscope. Subcontractors use it to assess weld integrity, creep damage, or material degradation on piping and pressure vessels.

Bladder Tank

Industry

A collapsible, flexible fluid storage container used on job sites to hold fuel, water, or chemicals. Subcontractors often mobilise them where permanent tanks aren't practical. They're common on remote oil and gas and construction sites.

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