HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling)

A foundation pile driven or screwed into soil without removing material, pushing ground laterally to create a tight fit. Common in oil and gas facility and construction site foundations. Subcontractors should confirm soil displacement specs early, as ground conditions directly affect equipment selection and crew scheduling.

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.

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.

Exploration activity conducted in remote, undeveloped, or previously unworked regions where subcontractors can expect longer mobilisation lead times, higher logistical costs, and limited access to local supply chains or support infrastructure.

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.