Oil with high viscosity and density, requiring specialised handling equipment and heat-assisted extraction methods. Field crews working heavy crude sites often face more demanding maintenance schedules and equipment wear. Subcontractors should factor in higher mobilisation and operational costs when tendering these projects.
Heavy Crude
Related Terms
Material Takeoff
IndustryA detailed list of all materials, quantities, and specifications needed to complete a scope of work. Subcontractors use it to prepare accurate bids and avoid costly shortages or overruns in the field.
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.
Export Terminal
IndustryA facility where oil, gas, or LNG is transferred from pipelines or storage for shipment to buyers. Subcontractors are often mobilised here for maintenance, inspection, and commissioning work. Security clearances and site-specific safety certifications are typically required.
TD (Total Depth)
IndustryThe maximum depth reached by a drilling rig during well construction, measured from the surface to the bottom of the wellbore. For subcontractors, TD determines project scope, equipment requirements, and billing milestones as it marks the completion of the drilling phase.
Mud Logging
IndustryA well-site service that monitors drilling fluid returns to detect hydrocarbons and analyse formation data in real time. Subcontractors provide specialised technicians and instrumentation units for this work. It is commonly scoped as a standalone package within a drilling contract.
Field Ticket
IndustryA document created in the field that records work performed, equipment used, materials consumed, and time spent. Field tickets are the basis for invoicing and must typically be approved by the customer before payment.
Latest Industry News
Canadian Heavy Crude Flows Shift South Through the Rockies, Creating Pipeline Activity Along the Way
More Canadian heavy crude is moving south through Rocky Mountain pipeline corridors toward the Gulf Coast, a flow shift that signals potential maintenance and throughput work for field service companies in Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico.
3 months ago IndustryCanadian Heavy Crude Flows South Through Rockies, Signaling Increased Activity
More Canadian heavy crude is being routed south through the Rockies corridor, a shift that could drive upstream and midstream field activity across multiple US basins.
3 months ago IndustryEnbridge Sees Canadian Crude Re-Exports From Gulf Coast Doubling by Late Decade
Enbridge's pipeline expansion plans could push Gulf Coast re-exports of Canadian heavy crude well above current levels of 200,000-400,000 bpd, creating new opportunities for subcontractors across Texas and the U.S. Midwest.
3 months ago IndustryCanada Greenlights 1M-Bpd Alberta-to-Pacific Pipeline for 2027 Start
Canada and Alberta unveiled plans for a new 1-million-barrel-per-day pipeline from the oil sands to British Columbia's coast, with construction targeted to start as early as September 2027.
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