PPA (Power Purchase Agreement)

Contracting arrangements beyond traditional lump-sum or day-rate structures, such as alliance, integrated project delivery, or performance-based contracts. These models shift how subcontractors are engaged, paid, and held accountable for outcomes. Understanding them helps field service firms assess risk, pricing strategy, and scope responsibilities before signing.

Software used to schedule, track, and document equipment maintenance and work orders on job sites. Subcontractors often must log completed maintenance tasks directly into a client's CMMS. Accurate entries protect you during audits and support invoicing for billable maintenance work.

Steel pipes used in drilling and well construction, including casing, tubing, and drill pipe. Subcontractors handling tubulars must follow strict inspection and handling procedures. Damage during your scope can result in costly liability claims.

Drilling program that follows an initial discovery to confirm reservoir size and commercial viability. For subcontractors, it means short-term, high-intensity scopes between exploration and full development phases. Mobilisation windows can be tight and contract durations unpredictable.

The phase of oil and gas well development after drilling is finished, encompassing the work required to prepare a well for production — including perforating, fracturing, and installing wellhead equipment. For subcontractors, completions represent a concentrated burst of high-demand field work where specialised crews, equipment, and services are mobilised under tight timelines.

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.