Large-scale infrastructure construction involving earthworks, bridges, roads, and foundations. Subcontractors in this sector typically supply specialised equipment, civil crews, or concrete services. Contracts are often high-value but require significant bonding and insurance capacity.
Heavy Civil
Related Terms
Onshore
IndustryRefers to oil and gas or construction operations located on land, as opposed to offshore or marine environments. For subcontractors, onshore work typically means different mobilisation logistics, certification requirements, and rate structures. Most Canadian field service activity in Alberta and Saskatchewan is onshore.
Modular Electrical Systems
IndustryPre-engineered electrical units that can be rapidly deployed, reconfigured, or relocated across job sites. Subcontractors often supply or install these systems on short-term contracts. They reduce setup time and support faster mobilisation in remote or temporary work environments.
Wet Screening
IndustryA separation process that uses water to sort and classify aggregates, drilling cuttings, or granular materials by size. Subcontractors operate wet screening equipment on site to remove fines and contaminants from bulk materials. It is common in civil construction, pipeline work, and drilling waste management scopes.
JIP (Joint-industry Project)
IndustryA cost-sharing initiative where multiple operators or companies fund research, technology development, or industry challenges together. For subcontractors, JIPs can open doors to new contracts, but procurement processes are often slow and heavily governed. Understanding which operators are involved helps you identify who holds the real budget authority.
SWD (Saltwater Disposal)
IndustryThe process of injecting produced water from oil and gas operations into approved underground formations. Subcontractors may operate or service SWD facilities, including pump maintenance, wellbore work, and fluid hauling. Understanding SWD volumes and schedules helps crews plan trucking, pit management, and injection equipment needs.
Run Schedule
IndustryA 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.
Latest Industry News
Nemetschek Acquires HCSS, Targeting Heavy Civil and Infrastructure Growth
German software giant Nemetschek Group is buying HCSS, maker of HeavyBid and HeavyJob, in a deal that signals growing consolidation in construction technology aimed at the heavy civil and infrastructure sectors.
3 months agoIndustryBrampton's $106M Riverwalk Project Opens Doors for Heavy Civil Subcontractors
Brampton's Riverwalk flood protection project will widen and deepen Etobicoke Creek and replace three bridges, creating multi-year subcontracting work in excavation, concrete and utility relocation, Daily Commercial News reports.
20 days agoIndustryPittsburgh's $1B Ohio River Sewer Tunnel Project Is a Five-Year Heavy Civil Opportunity
A Lane/Brayman joint venture has been selected for Pittsburgh's $1 billion Ohio River Tunnel project, the first phase of a multi-billion-dollar regional program to reduce sewer overflows across Allegheny County.
2 months agoIndustryVancouver's $200M Cambie Street Bridge Retrofit Opens Door for Heavy Civil Subcontractors
A $200 million seismic retrofit of Vancouver's Cambie Street Bridge, backed by federal, municipal, and regional funding, signals a growing pipeline of resilience-focused infrastructure contracts across Canada.
2 months agoRelated Guides
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.
Stay sharp on field operations
Industry news and insights, delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe to FieldNews
