A network of underwater equipment — including wellheads, manifolds, flowlines, and control systems — installed on the seabed to extract and transport oil or gas to a surface facility, representing a specialised scope of subsea installation, inspection, and maintenance work that subcontractors must hold specific certifications and equipment to perform. For field service companies, contracts in this space typically involve saturation diving support, remotely operated vehicle (ROV) operations, or subsea engineering services under strict offshore safety and quality regimes.
Subsea Production System
Related Terms
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.
MWD (Measurement While Drilling)
IndustryA real-time data acquisition process used during directional drilling that transmits downhole measurements — such as wellbore trajectory, formation data, and tool orientation — to surface crews without interrupting operations. For subcontractors, MWD services represent a specialised scope of work requiring certified technicians and dedicated equipment, often billed as a separate line item on drilling contracts.
Upstream
IndustryThe segment of the oil and gas industry involved in exploration and production (E&P). Includes drilling, completions, and well operations.
Umbilicals, Risers, and Flowlines
IndustryCollectively referred to as URF, these are the subsea infrastructure components that connect wellheads to production facilities — umbilicals carry control fluids and signals, risers bring production to surface, and flowlines move product along the seabed — subcontractors are commonly engaged for their installation, inspection, maintenance, and integrity management work. Understanding the distinctions between these systems helps field crews accurately scope work orders, apply correct certifications, and bill against the right line items in offshore or subsea contracts.
Midstream
IndustryThe segment of the oil and gas industry involved in processing, storing, and transporting oil, gas, and NGLs. Includes pipelines, gathering systems, and processing plants.
TVD (True Vertical Depth)
IndustryThe straight-line vertical distance from surface to a specific point in a wellbore, regardless of how the well is drilled — subcontractors working on directional or horizontal wells need to reference TVD (not measured depth) when scoping equipment reach, calculating hydrostatic pressures, or verifying work zone depths on service orders.
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