Throughput

A drilled or excavated hole through soil, rock, or existing structure. Subcontractors are often scoped to complete a specified number of bores per shift. Bore diameter and depth directly affect equipment selection and crew sizing.

A company that provides specialized services to oil and gas operators, such as drilling, completions, workover, transportation, or maintenance. Also called oilfield services (OFS).

Short-term, unplanned jobs awarded without a long-term contract, typically filled on short notice. Subcontractors are engaged for a single scope or site visit at a negotiated day rate. Common in shutdown, turnaround, and emergency maintenance situations.

Underground storage facilities, typically salt caverns, used to store hydrocarbons like natural gas or crude oil. Subcontractors may be engaged for cavern construction, well drilling, piping, and surface facility work. Projects often involve specialised equipment and compressed timelines tied to storage demand cycles.

Pre-engineered electrical units that can be rapidly deployed, reconfigured, or relocated across job sites. Subcontractors often supply or install these systems on short-term contracts. They reduce setup time and support faster mobilisation in remote or temporary work environments.

The number of drilling rigs actively operating in a region. Published weekly by Baker Hughes, the rig count is a leading indicator of activity levels in the oil and gas industry.

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.