In Q1 2026, Weatherford International demonstrated resilience in the Middle East despite geopolitical headwinds, securing strategic contracts and achieving notable technical successes that underscore its growing role in well intervention, completions, and digital optimisation across GCC countries.
The oilfield services provider reported a two-year well services contract awarded by a National Oil Company in the UAE.
This agreement covers a range of intervention and production enhancement activities, positioning Weatherford to support ongoing operations in one of the region’s key offshore and onshore basins.
The award comes at a time when operators are prioritising well integrity and production optimisation in mature fields.
In Saudi Arabia, Weatherford delivered two standout achievements. The company set a new global record for extended-reach wireline logging, successfully reaching 29,121 ft measured depth using its Compact Well Shuttle system.
This milestone highlights the technology’s capability to evaluate long, highly deviated wells efficiently without traditional conveyance methods, offering significant time and cost savings for complex reservoir characterisation in challenging offshore and extended-reach environments.
Equally significant was the successful execution of the first rigless thru-tubing sand-control gravel-pack operation in the Kingdom.
The intervention restored a shut-in gas well to full production by eliminating sand production without the need for a workover rig.
This rigless approach reduces operational complexity, minimises downtime, and lowers costs, advantages particularly valuable in offshore well intervention scenarios where rig mobilisation can be prohibitively expensive.
Weatherford expects this technique to become a recurring solution for sand management in the region.
Further digital progress was noted in Oman, where the company advanced its partnership with Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) by deploying Electric Submersible Pump (ESP) Predictive Analytics within the ForeSite Well Management System.
Moving from pilot to full operational use, this technology enables proactive well management, reducing failures and optimising artificial lift performance across gas and oil wells.
Weatherford’s Middle East/North Africa/Asia revenue for Q1 2026 reached US$476mn, reflecting a 5% year-on-year decline primarily attributable to heightened geopolitical tensions linked to the Iran conflict.
Sequential revenue fell 14%, driven by project suspensions, logistical disruptions, and reduced drilling and workover activity in several countries, including offshore operations in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Management estimates a US$30–50mn profit impact for H1 2026 but remains optimistic about a meaningful recovery in H2, contingent on regional stabilisation.
Despite these challenges, the company highlighted the strength of its local manufacturing and supply chain base, which helped mitigate early disruptions.
Executives pointed to a multi-year acceleration of capacity and resilience programmes across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Iraq, and Kuwait, where Weatherford’s integrated offerings in drilling, completions, production, and well services provide a competitive edge.
