Operations performed on an existing well to restore, maintain, or improve production. Includes activities like recompletions, artificial lift installation, and remedial cementing.
Workover
Related Terms
Refractory Lining
IndustryHeat-resistant material installed inside furnaces, boilers, and process vessels to protect steel from extreme temperatures. Subcontractors are often hired for installation, inspection, and repair during turnarounds. Proper curing and dryout procedures are critical to avoid costly failures.
Modular Water Storage
IndustryPortable, stackable tank systems used on remote job sites to store potable, process, or wastewater. Subcontractors deploy them quickly without permanent infrastructure. Common on pipeline, camp, and frac support contracts.
Deepwater
IndustryRefers to offshore oil and gas operations conducted in water depths exceeding 300 metres, where subcontractors and field service crews must hold specialised certifications, work within stricter regulatory frameworks, and often face extended mobilisation timelines and higher equipment day-rates.
Drilling Spread
IndustryThe complete package of equipment, personnel, and services required to drill a well, which determines the scope of work subcontractors are hired into — whether supplying a single service line or multiple integrated components across the operation.
Operator
IndustryThe company that holds the rights to develop an oil and gas property and manages day-to-day operations. Operators hire subcontractors and service companies to perform various tasks.
Pre-Salt
IndustryRefers to oil reservoirs located beneath thick layers of underground salt, typically in deepwater offshore basins. For subcontractors, pre-salt projects involve specialised equipment, extended mobilisation timelines, and higher operational complexity. Expect longer contract cycles and stricter certification requirements from operators.
Latest Industry News
Alberta's 45,000 Idle Shallow Gas Wells Signal a Workover and Optimization Boom
An estimated 45,000 shallow gas wells sit underperforming or idle across Alberta, creating a significant opportunity for field service companies specializing in well intervention, workover, and downhole optimization.
2 months agoIndustryMi4's RigReports Brings Drilling, Completions and Workover Data onto One Platform
Mi4's cloud-based RigReports application centralizes daily drilling reports, completions, workover and facility job data in a single platform, aiming to cut administrative overhead for operators.
5 months agoIndustryEmpire Petroleum Ramps Up East Texas Workover Campaign, Plans Up to 30 Wells in 2026
Empire Petroleum is expanding its Texas gas development program to as many as 30 wells this year, moving from well reactivations into active drilling. Subcontractors in workover, completion, and surface construction stand to benefit from the multi-phase campaign.
6 months agoIndustryMonumental Energy Brings New Zealand Well Back Online After Workover
Monumental Energy restarted oil production at the Waihapa H1 well in New Zealand's Taranaki basin on March 13 after a workover targeting bypassed pay in the Mount Messenger formation yielded natural high-pressure flow across seven perforations.
6 months agoRelated Guides
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.
Industry GuideHow 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.
Industry GuideWhat 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.
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