The annual Offshore Well Intervention Awards Global 2026 will return to Aberdeen this November, ready to once again shine the spotlight on the greatest minds within the industry.
This year, the judges will review each entry across six different criteria, including originality and creativity; functionality and technical qualities; ease of use; impact on the industry; performance and track record; and sustainability and growth.
The awards up for grabs this year include:
Guests will be treated to an evening of networking, entertainment, a three course meal, and the chance to raise a glass with the best in the industry and celebrate the success with their peers.
The ceremony will take place at the Union Kirk, Aberdeen on 19 November, 2026. Tickets are available on the website.
A North Sea operator improved the reliability of its offshore production operations after deploying a new electric submersible pump (ESP) system supported by Halliburton’s Summit ESP service and digital monitoring technologies
The deployment addressed challenges with the operator’s previous ESP supplier, including missed delivery timelines, limited equipment availability, mechanical failures and high intervention costs. The operator also required a reliable solution that could be installed on an active production platform using hydraulic workover (HWO) unit operations.
According to a Halliburton case study, the operator needed an ESP system that could be delivered quickly, installed without disruption and supported through continuous monitoring and optimisation.
Addressing offshore ESP reliability challenges
The operator’s previous ESP systems had experienced limited stock availability and extended delivery times, while mechanical failures had contributed to operational challenges.
Installation also presented specific risks. Capillary chemical injection lines had been damaged during previous installation activities, creating concerns about the long-term performance of the ESP system.
In addition, offshore cybersecurity requirements added complexity to the deployment of digital monitoring and remote optimisation capabilities.
To address these challenges, Summit ESP, a Halliburton service, worked with the customer to conduct a detailed factory assessment of each ESP component.
The team designed a custom protector flange to safeguard the capillary line. The component was manufactured locally in Emmen, the Netherlands.
ESP system delivered ahead of schedule
Early delivery of the ESP system enabled comprehensive fit-up testing with HWO tools before offshore installation. This helped verify compatibility and prepare the equipment for deployment on the production platform.
Halliburton’s global field service team subsequently installed the system, removed the failed equipment and commissioned the replacement ESP system.
The installation achieved 100% KPI compliance, while the Intelevate® platform, powered by the Summit Knowledge® digital ecosystem, provided real-time data, health checks and optimisation recommendations from the start of operations.
The system was delivered one month ahead of schedule, while the deployment recorded zero non-productive time (NPT).
The Intelevate platform also provided 24 hours of daily real-time monitoring and optimisation.
Digital monitoring supports offshore operations
The deployment marked the first use of Halliburton’s Intelevate digital platform in the North Sea, according to the Halliburton case study.
The platform provided continuous visibility into the ESP system and supported 24/7 optimisation from day one.
The early arrival of the ESP system also allowed additional pre-checks and in-country fit-up testing before offshore installation. This confirmed compatibility with the HWO equipment and helped eliminate risks associated with non-productive time and minimise deferred production.
Restoring ESP performance offshore
The replacement ESP system met production targets and restored reliability to the operator’s offshore operations.
Continuous support through the Intelevate platform helped maintain operational efficiency through real-time monitoring and optimisation.
The customer acknowledged the service quality, with the deployment representing a milestone in the operator’s offshore ESP operations.
Halliburton has secured a bundled well construction and completions contract from Eni for the Cronos ultra-deepwater development in Block 6 of the Cyprus Exclusive Economic Zone
The award strengthens Halliburton’s offshore portfolio in the Eastern Mediterranean and expands its role in the region’s strategic natural gas development.
Under the contract, Halliburton will provide integrated drilling, well construction, automation and completions services for exploration and development wells. The bundled scope is designed to reduce operational interfaces, improve execution certainty and support efficient delivery across the multi-year ultra-deepwater development.
The Cronos award builds on Halliburton’s longstanding relationship with Eni and reflects the company’s ability to deliver integrated offshore solutions for complex deepwater developments. It also strengthens Halliburton’s position in the Eastern Mediterranean, an emerging offshore gas region. The company expects its integrated delivery model to support future development as operators prioritise efficiency, performance and long-term value.
Jean-Marc Lopez, senior vice president, Europe, Eurasia, and Sub-Saharan Africa, Halliburton
The scope includes drilling fluids, directional drilling, LOGIX automation and remote operations, cementing, surface well testing and coiled tubing. Halliburton will support the campaign through its established infrastructure and regional capabilities in Cyprus, providing logistical advantages and supporting reliable execution throughout the programme.
The Cronos project provides a platform for future deepwater development in the Eastern Mediterranean. Halliburton expects to apply its integrated delivery model to additional offshore campaigns as operators seek greater efficiency, reliable performance and long-term value in increasingly complex offshore environments.
Early design decisions and robust qualification of subsea connectors can fundamentally impact the long-term integrity of subsea pipelines, warns Lloyd’s Register (LR), in a new study for the Norwegian Ocean Industry Authority (Havtil).
The report “Integrity of Connectors in Pipelines and Subsea Systems” provides an updated basis of experience for assessing the integrity of welded and mechanical connectors in pipelines and subsea facilities, highlighting how the right choices early in the design phase are crucial for safe and responsible operations throughout the entire service life.
Pipelines and subsea facilities are critical components of offshore energy production, connecting fields to processing and export infrastructure while operating in some of the world's most demanding environments. Ensuring their structural integrity throughout decades of service remains a key challenge for operators and regulators alike. The integrity of connectors in pipelines and subsea systems is critical for the safe and continuous operation of offshore infrastructure. Common failure modes for subsea connectors include leakage, material failure, mechanical failure, and corrosion, with leakage identified as the most frequent failure mode.
Drawing on industry data, LR maps common fault mechanisms and performance trends, concluding that decisions taken at the design stage have a direct impact on failure risk throughout an asset’s life. Operators need to ensure that connector design and qualification processes are sufficiently robust for such critical components.
Comprehensive qualification provides confidence in the integrity of the connector throughout service life, while early involvement of the original equipment manufacturer can support life extension by validating key design assumptions and performance limits.
The report makes the following recommendations to enhance the integrity and reliability of subsea connectors:
• Collaboration with manufacturers: Engage with connector manufacturers to leverage their expertise in identifying potential failure modes and developing mitigation strategies. Manufacturers can provide valuable insights into the design, qualification, and maintenance of connectors.
• Regular inspections: Establish a robust inspection regime, in collaboration with manufacturers, that includes regular visual inspections, cathodic protection surveys, and postinstallation testing to detect and address potential issues early.
• Life extension assessments: Conduct life extension assessments for connectors approaching the end of their design life. This should include evaluating the condition of the connector, the loads it has been subjected to, and its compatibility with the transported fluids. Particular attention should be made towards components which are a single point of failure for the connector.
Sean Murray, Global Technical Authority – Pipelines and Subsea at Lloyd's Register, said, “Subsea systems are expected to perform safely and reliably for many years in challenging operating conditions. The choices made during design have a lasting impact on their integrity and long-term performance.
“This project consolidates industry experience, operational data, and failure insights to support improved risk-based decision-making across the lifecycle of subsea assets. It highlights that, while subsea connectors generally demonstrate high reliability, their performance is strongly dependent on robust design, manufacturing quality, installation control, and rigorous qualification.
“By better understanding how different connector solutions perform in service, operators can make more informed decisions that enhance safety, reduce risk and improve through-life reliability of these critical components.”
Steffen Andreasen, principal engineer at Havtil, added, “Sharing experience and knowledge across the industry is key to reducing risk and improving structural safety. This study highlights how the integrity of subsea connectors depends on robust design, qualification, and integrity management, which together are essential for maintaining safe and reliable operations throughout the lifetime of subsea infrastructure.”
Baker Hughes has won a significant award from bp to provide offshore stimulation services across the company’s UK North Sea operations.
Under the agreement, Baker Hughes will deploy a vessel-based stimulation solution, complete with its StimFORCE modular stimulation package to support well completions and production enhancement activities. The solution is designed to enhance operational reliability, minimise non-productive time and optimise recovery.
Executive Vice President of Oilfield Services & Equipment at Baker Hughes, Amerino Gatti, said, “By combining our vessel-based stimulation expertise, advanced intervention technologies and production optimisation capabilities, we are well positioned to help bp enhance reservoir performance, increase operational flexibility and unlock additional value from both new and mature fields across its North Sea portfolio.”
The dedicated vessel solution provides both schedule and operational flexibility, enabling stimulation activities to be executed efficiently.
Baker Hughes has a long-standing presence in the UK, helping operators optimise reservoir performance across the well lifecycle.
Aberdeen-headquartered well integrity and decommissioning specialist Unity has completed a technically challenging well intervention project in Central Italy for SMAPE, delivering a bespoke thru-tubing solution for a major international oil company.
The project required an alternative approach after conventional cement squeeze operations failed to achieve the necessary well isolation. Cement was being absorbed by a thief zone located behind a slotted liner, preventing the operation from delivering the required result.
The well’s geometry presented a further challenge. Standard mechanical isolation equipment could not be used because the retainer needed to pass through a tight 2.188-inch nipple restriction before expanding and setting securely within a 3.958-inch ID above the thief zone.
Planning also had to account for the well’s low fluid level. This was necessary to prevent premature disconnection during the cementing operation and ensure the treatment packer was not pressurised beyond its operating limitations.
Unity responded by engineering an inflatable cement retainer capable of passing through the restricted nipple profile. The solution was developed after attempts to achieve isolation using cement alone had proved unsuccessful.
Rather than relying on an off-the-shelf product, Unity selected components from across the OEM market and engineered them to suit the specific requirements of the well. This OEM-agnostic approach allows its thru-tubing team to develop tailored solutions for complex intervention challenges.
For the project, Unity’s specialist thru-tubing team developed a custom 2.125-inch inflatable cement retainer. The Bottom-Hole Assembly was modified with a dual check valve system and shear disconnect, while a cement plug was incorporated into the solution.
This configuration enabled the rig team to release from the cement retainer immediately after the squeeze operation without dropping additional balls or facing complications after the packer had been inflated.
Unity Thru-Tubing Operations Manager Chris Myles said: “This is the first time we have used this configuration, which draws on established principles. This is really the heart of how we work at Unity thru-tubing. We're not tied to one OEM's solution, so we can pull in whatever's most appropriate, adapt it, and build something that fits the exact problem in front of us. That's what sets Unity apart, and it's what clients get in return - a solution built around their well requirements, not the other way round.
“This project marks our second collaboration with SMAPE, and it’s fantastic that the team see the value we bring to complex well integrity challenges. These are often the kinds of jobs where a standard approach isn’t enough, so being able to work closely with the client and develop a solution around the specific requirements of the well is where our expertise really makes a difference.”
The project forms part of Unity’s wider investment in well intervention capabilities. Since the beginning of 2025, the company has expanded its intervention tooling portfolio, strengthening its ability to deliver integrated well integrity and intervention services through a single supplier relationship.
By combining engineering expertise, OEM-agnostic tool selection and operational experience, Unity provides operators and service providers with customised solutions for complex well integrity requirements. The approach is also designed to streamline operations by reducing the cost and complexity associated with managing multiple suppliers.
Unity is part of the FrontRow Energy Technology Group and has a 30-year track record of supporting operators worldwide in reducing risk, overcoming operational constraints and extending asset life across energy operations.
SMAPE is an independent engineering company specialising in coiled tubing and well services.
Expro keeps building its stronghold in the UK North Sea plug and abandonment (P&A) market with its latest contract from a major UK operator, amounting multi-million-pounds.
The agreement secures Expro's delivery of safe subsea services, including 7-3/8” large bore Subsea Test Tree Assembly (SSTTA) safety system that will advance an extensive P&A campaign across a portfolio of mature subsea wells. Expro will be working on six firm wells, with a further six optional wells.
Expro’s subsea well access systems are designed to be robust and reliable, providing dual barrier protection and disconnect capability. This simplifies P&A operations while also minimising operational risk and downtime. These systems are critical to maintaining well integrity throughout abandonment activities, particularly in complex offshore environments. Solus is one of the latest launches by Expro, designed to simplify subsea well control operations while improving efficiency and reducing operational risk. The system addresses longstanding challenges in in-riser subsea well intervention, where conventional methods typically rely on two separate valves, one for shearing and another for sealing coiled tubing.
Carole Paley, Expro’s UK Managing Director said, “Expro has in depth knowledge of North Sea wells and has performed numerous operations on many of these wells over their lifecycle. This deep-rooted expertise supported by local resources enables the delivery of meaningful cost efficiencies. We look forward to working closely with our client on this project as they progress this important campaign over the coming year.”
Well-Safe Solutions (Well-Safe) has entered into a strategic partnership with Islay Subsurface & Engineering (Islay), combining their respective technical and operational capabilities to support current projects and future collaboration.
The agreement includes support for Well-Safe’s recently awarded decommissioning contracts for the Apache Beryl and Forties assets, with Islay providing specialist subsurface expertise across geology, petrophysics, geophysics, reservoir engineering and integrated subsurface studies.
The partnership complements Well-Safe’s full well lifecycle management capabilities, allowing clients to access a broader range of services through a single integrated offering. The companies said that combining Islay’s subsurface expertise with Well-Safe’s engineering and operational capabilities has demonstrated efficiency improvements of up to 30%, creating opportunities to reduce project costs.
The integrated approach is also intended to improve plug and abandonment (P&A) performance and reduce operational risk. By applying ALARP management principles, the partners can develop well solutions that take into account individual well conditions, construction characteristics and operational context.
The companies said the collaboration is particularly relevant as the industry moves towards larger multi-well decommissioning programmes and late-life asset activities. By bringing together subsurface, engineering and operational expertise, the partnership is designed to reduce the number of interfaces for operators while providing greater certainty during planning, strategy development and execution.
The combined offering will support late-life well management through to eventual plug and abandonment, while strengthening the supply chain’s ability to deliver technically robust, safe and cost-effective projects at scale.
Phil Milton, CEO – Well-Safe Solutions, says: “Well-Safe Solutions takes pride in offering efficient, integrated services for the energy industry. Our collaborations with Islay Subsurface & Engineering on projects for clients including Trident Energy have been extremely successful, and Islay continues to be Well-Safe’s first choice for subsurface support on recent contract awards such as Apache where we are delivering late life well management and large-scale decommissioning activities. This strategic partnership recognises Islay’s excellent offering and technical capabilities and allows us to further enhance our integrated offering for current and future clients.”
Iain Whyte, Managing Director – Islay Subsurface & Engineering, adds: “Our partnership with Well-Safe Solutions brings together two complementary areas of expertise. Well-Safe Solutions provides industry-leading well engineering and operational capabilities, while Islay contributes specialist subsurface expertise spanning geology, geophysics, petrophysics, reservoir engineering, and integrated subsurface studies. Together, we offer operators a fully integrated technical solution for late life well management and decommissioning and late-life asset projects, ensuring engineering decisions are informed by robust subsurface understanding. By combining these complementary strengths, we help clients reduce uncertainty, optimise project planning, and deliver safe, efficient, and cost-effective outcomes.”
Decom Engineering has secured contracts worth an estimated £4.5mn during H1 2026, surpassing its original full-year target and placing the company in a strong position to mark a record annual revenue of £6mn.
The performance reflects the growing international demand for Decom’s specialist cold cutting technologies and engineering expertise, offshore and onshore, across decommissioning scopes as well as installation and commissioning projects.
Projects have been secured across North America, South America, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and the North Sea, ranging from chain cutting projects to large-scale subsea structural removal.
In Australia, Decom has completed a subsea flexible flowline removal campaign with Cyan Renewables over a five-month campaign, while in Canada, a summer-long East Coast installation campaign is underway using the C1-16 UL Chopsaw with follow-on campaigns scheduled for 2027 and 2028.
The ultra-light C1-16 Chopsaw is being utilised on a variety of projects – two are permanently deployed on mooring chain cutting scopes offshore Brazil, while in the UKCS another is engaged on a 60-day campaign cutting chains and risers on an FPSO.
Another chain cutting project for an FLNG operator offshore West Africa in underway, while in the Middle East, Decom has developed a custom-built TRACS-32 unit that will be ready to start work in Q4 2026.
Decom Engineering Managing Director, Nick McNally, said, “Decommissioning remains a core strength of the business, but installation work – supporting clients during the deployment of new subsea assets rather than only at the end of asset life – has become a significant part of our project pipeline. Changing market conditions and better market alignment is one factor behind this year’s growth but this sits alongside a major overhaul of our product design, and a change in engineering culture with a focus on innovation, which allows us to be more responsive to customer’s requirements.”
Chairman Keith McDermott added, “We set a target of £4.3mn for 2026 and we have already exceeded at the halfway stage, so expect to double our year-on-year revenue, and have a raft of work already secured for 2027. What is encouraging is that while our decommissioning legacy is a core element of our business, clients are increasingly recognising the value of engaging our technology and expertise much earlier in the lifecycle of an asset.”
Stressing on the urgency to incentivise energy production instead of relying on imported oil and gas, Offshore Energies UK (OEUK) has expressed the need for early implementation of the government’s proposed Oil and Gas Price Mechanism as it can potentially unlock an additional £50 billion in oil and gas investment.
The body has urged a priority visit by Prime Minister Andy Burnham so that the North Sea's offshore industry stakeholders from operators to supply chain players can expect a positive shift in government attitudes towards the sector.
“The UK will still need oil and gas for decades to come. The question is whether we produce as much of that energy as possible here — supporting our own jobs, communities and economy — or rely increasingly on imports while exporting investment and economic value overseas. Government policy should back North Sea production as part of a secure and managed energy transition.
“Energy policy cannot be made in Westminster alone without listening to the people and communities who have powered this country for the last 50 years. For too long, offshore workers, engineers, technicians and those across the energy supply chain have been talked about rather than listened to. A visit to meet the North Sea workforce would demonstrate that the new Government intends to build a different relationship with the people and communities at the heart of Britain’s energy system.
"The new Prime Minister must now turn listening into action. Words of support for projects such as Jackdaw and Rosebank cannot be a substitute for the policy reset our country needs. The new Government must back North Sea oil and gas over increased reliance on imports — delivering the fiscal and regulatory reforms required to unlock investment, protect domestic jobs, strengthen energy security and support the energy transition,” said David Whitehouse, Chief Executive of OEUK.
North Sea's decades-long legacy of offshore exploration needs digital innovations to continue thriving in the current era of sustainability. The recently concluded OWI EU 2026 in Stavanger, Norway, celebrated the rich legacy of the North Sea, by fostering crossborder collaboration, digital innovation, and exchanging ideas on sustainable interventions.
Keeping up with production goals from the largely declining North Sea assets will inevitably require rapid digitalisation of the sector. As operators are now having to work under dynamic conditions, requiring fast yet accurate decisionmaking, they need the support of integrated digital platforms that combine real-time data, historical well information and advanced analytics to improve visibility across their assets. Tools, such as digital well barrier schematics, are helping reduce manual effort and enabling more consistent, standardised approaches to integrity management.
Offshore Netwrok has recently released a report reflecting North Sea's stronghold in the global well intervention industry. The region's well intervention scene is way past the stage of new innovations and is just a few steps away from becoming an established norm. Click here to download the report.
Expro, a global energy services provider, has showcased through a recent case study how advanced subsea technology enabled safe, efficient well abandonment
Operating in some of the world's most challenging offshore environments demands technologies that can maintain safety, reliability and operational efficiency even when weather conditions deteriorate. A recent case study from Expro demonstrates how the company successfully supported a complex subsea well abandonment campaign in the harsh waters north-east of Shetland, delivering consistent performance despite repeated weather-related disruptions.
The project involved the safe re-entry into five subsea wells as part of a well abandonment programme. Conducted from a floating Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU), the campaign faced demanding operating conditions characterised by frequent storms, heavy swells and rapidly changing sea states. These conditions increased the risk of non-productive time (NPT), making dependable well integrity systems and robust disconnect capability critical to maintaining safe operations.
Expro was selected for the campaign based on its established expertise in subsea well integrity, proven control barrier technologies and reliable disconnect systems. Building on an ongoing relationship with the operator, the company was chosen for its technical capabilities, field-proven equipment and operational performance in extreme offshore environments.
Throughout the campaign, Expro's Subsea Safety Tree (SSTT) system played a central role in maintaining operational continuity. Adverse weather conditions required the primary SSTT system to be unlatched on five separate occasions to allow safe disconnection from the well. Despite these interruptions, every unlatch and subsequent relatch operation was completed successfully on the first attempt without incident.
The extended campaign also demonstrated the durability of the equipment. During operations, the SSTT system completed 1,114 valve functions and accumulated 2,490 operating hours while maintaining full operational integrity. Even after extensive use, the system continued to perform reliably, highlighting its resilience in one of the industry's most demanding offshore environments.
A key factor behind the project's success was the combination of reliable technology and experienced offshore personnel. The SSTT's dependable unlatching capability enabled safe disconnection during severe weather, while its high-performance latch mechanism ensured repeatable, reliable reconnection each time conditions improved. Careful planning and close coordination by Expro's offshore team further supported the seamless execution of the campaign.
According to the case study, the solution enabled the operator to complete all required completion intervention activities for the well abandonment programme without experiencing non-productive time. The combination of proven equipment reliability, first-time operational success and effective collaboration between offshore personnel and technology helped deliver safe and efficient operations throughout the project.
The campaign also demonstrated the importance of robust subsea intervention systems as offshore operators continue to prioritise safe and cost-effective well decommissioning. By maintaining continuous performance under challenging conditions, the project illustrates how advanced well integrity technologies can reduce operational risk while supporting efficient abandonment programmes in increasingly demanding offshore environments.
DeepOcean has completed the recovery of the remaining subsea wellhead protection structure at the Spirit Energy-operated Seven Seas field and disconnected subsea infrastructure at the nearby Grove West field in the southern North Sea, using proprietary decommissioning tooling developed in-house.
The project included onshore engineering, project management and offshore execution by DeepOcean, with the company's high-specification construction vessel Edda Freya deployed to recover the wellhead protection structure, which weighed more than 100 tonnes, along with associated subsea infrastructure. All recovered materials have been transported for reuse, recycling or responsible disposal. The work was managed and carried out by DeepOcean's Aberdeen-based operations in the UK.
The activities form part of Spirit Energy's broader decommissioning programme for the Seven Seas and Grove West fields, with both scopes completed in preparation for an upcoming rig campaign.
"The wellhead protection structure at Seven Seas has served the field since 2011 and remains in very good shape. The piles were cut three metres below the seabed and the subsequent retrieval of the structure was conducted. We were delighted to support Spirit Energy on this project and look forward to working with Spirit Energy on future scopes of work," said Robin Mawhinney, Executive Vice President for DeepOcean's EMEA region.
The project also involved disconnecting a spool from a subsea Christmas tree at Grove West. The operation was carried out using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) together with specialised tooling, eliminating the need for diver intervention that would traditionally be required for this type of work.
Spirit Energy's Decommissioning Manager, Ceri Wheaton, said: "We are committed to maximising material recovery and minimising waste throughout our decommissioning activities. By working closely with specialist contractors such as DeepOcean and leveraging the UK supply chain, we have safely recycled more than 95% of materials from decommissioned assets and infrastructure. This approach not only reduces environmental impact but also improves efficiency through streamlined logistics and the responsible reuse of valuable resources."
"At Grove West, we disconnected two subsea flanges using methodologies and proprietary tooling developed during the Gryphon Alpha FPSO removal project last year. This project adds to DeepOcean's growing track record of meeting project objectives across subsea decommissioning campaigns," said Øyvind Mikaelsen, Chief Executive Officer at DeepOcean.
The Seven Seas wellhead protection structure was located approximately 80 km offshore the East Yorkshire coast in water depths of around 33 metres, while the Grove West infrastructure is situated about 130 km east of the UK coastline in water depths of approximately 40 metres.
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