FEED (Front-end Engineering Design)

A road interchange design where traffic briefly crosses to the opposite side of the road between two intersections. Subcontractors hauling heavy equipment or oversized loads must account for altered lane patterns and potential permit route restrictions. Plan site access carefully, as DDI layouts can complicate convoy movements and GPS routing.

A technical document outlining the planned scope, procedures, and specifications for drilling or completing a well. Subcontractors use it to understand required services, equipment, and sequencing before mobilising. It directly affects how you scope work and price your bid.

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.

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 well drilled in an unproven or lightly tested area to determine whether hydrocarbons are present, often representing shorter-term, high-mobilisation contracts for subcontractors with less predictable follow-on work than development drilling programmes.

The collection of drilling tools and equipment at the bottom of the drill string, including the drill bit, drill collars, stabilizers, and downhole motors. For drilling subcontractors, BHA configuration directly impacts drilling performance, tool wear rates, and operational efficiency.

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.