A government-issued authorisation required before drilling or servicing a well can begin. Subcontractors should confirm a valid permit is in place before mobilising crews or equipment. Work started without one can result in shutdowns, fines, or liability for the operator and service company.
Permit (well Permit)
Related Terms
Surface Access Rights
ComplianceLegal authorisation allowing crews and equipment to enter privately or publicly owned land to perform field work. Subcontractors must confirm these rights are secured before mobilising to site. Working without confirmed access can halt operations and expose your company to liability.
CEM (Continuous Emissions Monitoring)
ComplianceAutomated systems that track pollutant outputs from equipment in real time. Subcontractors operating combustion equipment may be required to install, maintain, or provide data from these systems. Non-compliance can trigger work stoppages or contract penalties.
Environmental Permitting
ComplianceThe process of obtaining government approvals before starting work that may impact land, water, or air. Subcontractors must confirm permits are in place before mobilising — delays can halt work without pay. Missing or expired permits can expose your company to fines and contract termination.
MI (Mechanical Integrity)
ComplianceA regulatory and operational standard confirming that pressure-containing equipment is fit for service and free from defects. Subcontractors working on vessels, pipelines, or wellheads must often meet MI requirements before commencing work. Non-compliance can halt operations and trigger liability for field service crews.
Dig-In
ComplianceAn accidental strike on a buried utility, pipeline, or cable during excavation work. For subcontractors, a dig-in can trigger work stoppages, liability claims, and regulatory investigations. Always confirm locate tickets are current before any ground disturbance.
OFCCP (Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs)
ComplianceA U.S. federal agency enforcing equal employment rules for companies working on federal contracts. Subcontractors on U.S. federal projects must meet hiring and anti-discrimination requirements. Non-compliance can result in contract termination or debarment from future federal work.
Latest Compliance News
Michigan Supreme Court Sends Enbridge Line 5 Tunnel Permit Back for Review
The Michigan Supreme Court has ordered regulators to redo a key permit for Enbridge's Line 5 tunnel under the Straits of Mackinac, delaying a project already under review for nearly a decade.
20 hours agoIndustryTexas Regulator Issues Second Deep Geothermal Well Permit to Quidnet Energy
The Texas Railroad Commission has issued its second deep geopressured geothermal well permit, this time to Quidnet Energy Deployment for a Galveston County energy storage project, World Oil reports.
4 days agoIndustryBC Fast-Tracks $2B Tilbury LNG Expansion, Skips Utility Permit Review
BC has exempted FortisBC from a standard permitting step to accelerate the $2-billion Tilbury LNG expansion in Delta, promising 1,100 construction jobs and construction start by mid-2027.
10 days agoIndustryNY Data Center Permit Freeze Risks Sending Work to Other States
A New York executive order pausing permits for data centers over 50 MW creates open-ended uncertainty that could push construction investment to Texas and Virginia, Engineering News-Record commentary argues.
12 days agoRelated Guides
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Compliance GuideOSHA Citations on Multi-Employer Worksites: What Subcontractors Need to Know
Learn how OSHA's multi-employer citation policy works, why subcontractors get cited for hazards they didn't create, and how to protect your company on operator-controlled job sites.
Compliance GuideHow to Read and Negotiate an Oilfield Master Service Agreement (MSA): A Subcontractor's Guide
Learn which MSA clauses actually matter for oilfield subcontractors: indemnity, insurance, payment terms, and change orders. Know what you're signing.
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