The planning phase before field work begins, covering scope review, site assessments, and schedule alignment with the GC. Subcontractors are often engaged during this phase to provide pricing, labour forecasts, and constructability input. Early involvement can improve mobilisation timelines and reduce costly scope changes later.
Industry Glossary Term
Preconstruction
Related Terms
Lateral (horizontal Wellbore Section)
IndustryThe horizontal portion of a directionally drilled well, extending outward from the kick-off point through the reservoir. Subcontractors working completions, coiled tubing, or perforating jobs are typically deployed specifically for lateral operations. Lateral length directly affects crew hours, equipment requirements, and job scope pricing.
Spring Break-Up
IndustryThe seasonal period when melting snow and frost causes ground conditions to soften, restricting heavy equipment access to remote sites. Municipalities impose road bans limiting load weights, delaying material hauls and crew mobilisation. Subcontractors should plan for project slowdowns and reduced billable hours during this window.
Reactivation
IndustryThe process of bringing a dormant well, pipeline, or piece of equipment back into active service, often requiring subcontractors to mobilise crews, conduct inspections, and complete compliance checks before full operations can resume. For field service companies, reactivation work can represent a significant surge in contract opportunities, particularly during periods of rising commodity prices.
Minimum Work Program
IndustryA contractually obligated set of activities and expenditures an operator must complete within a set timeframe, typically tied to a licence or lease agreement; for subcontractors, this creates predictable scopes of work and mobilisation opportunities as operators must execute these commitments or risk losing their rights to the asset.
Spud Date
IndustryThe date when drilling begins on a new well. Marks the start of drilling operations.
Wireline
IndustryA method of lowering tools, instruments, or equipment into a wellbore via a steel cable, commonly used for well logging, perforating, and intervention services. For subcontractors, wireline work is typically scoped as a specialised service requiring certified operators and dedicated equipment spreads.
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