FieldNews
Subscribe

Daily oil & gas and construction news for subcontractors

Cash Flow Glossary Term

Lump-Sum Turnkey

A fixed-price contract where the subcontractor delivers a completed scope of work for one agreed total. All cost overruns come out of your margin, not the client's pocket. Scope creep and unforeseen site conditions are your financial risk to manage.

Related Terms

LEM (Labour, Equipment, Materials)

Cash Flow

A breakdown of costs on a field ticket or invoice, separating charges into labor hours, equipment usage, and materials consumed.

Tax-Exempt Revenue Bonds

Cash Flow

Government-issued bonds that fund large infrastructure projects without federal tax on investor returns. For subcontractors, these bonds often finance the public projects you bid on, such as pipelines or facilities. Lower borrowing costs for project owners can mean steadier long-term contracts and more predictable payment cycles.

Alteration

Cash Flow

A formal change to an existing contract's scope, timeline, or pricing. Subcontractors must document alterations in writing to protect payment entitlements. Verbal agreements alone rarely hold up during disputes or audits.

Procurement Sprawl

Cash Flow

When a subcontractor sources materials, tools, or services through too many uncoordinated vendors. This drives up costs, creates invoice chaos, and delays field operations. Consolidating suppliers helps control spend and simplify accounts payable.

Capacity Charge

Cash Flow

A fee billed to clients to reserve your crew, equipment, or services during a set period — whether fully utilised or not. It protects subcontractors from revenue loss during standby or low-demand phases. Common in long-term service agreements for drilling, frac, or maintenance contracts.

Basis Risk

Cash Flow

The gap between a benchmark price (like WTI crude) and the actual local price your client pays. When that gap widens unexpectedly, clients may cut field budgets mid-contract. This can delay your invoices or reduce your awarded scope.

Stay sharp on field operations

Industry news and insights, delivered to your inbox.

Subscribe to FieldNews
A community project by Aimsio