DOF Group ASA will be delivering several projects in the North America region in lines with a contract worth more than US$60mn with scope for extension.
DOF's vessels that are already available in the region have been booked for more than 300 days of firm vessel utilisation. While Skandi Skansen will cover a six-week mooring project in Guyana starting October, Skandi Implementer has been held in Mexico for a two-month service before the year-end, involving subsea cable repair and subsea installation.
Furthermore, the third-party vessel Cade Candies will be used to provide Walk to Work services off the East Coast of the USA with expected commencement in Q2 2026 and duration of approximately eight months with further options.
Mons Aase, DOF Group ASA CEO, said, “I am very happy to see the strong momentum in the North America region continue with these project awards, securing utilisation for project vessels in the region. I am especially pleased that Skandi Implementer has been working non-stop in the region after we terminated her original long-term contract in Mexico in early 2025.”
Archer Limited, based in Bermuda, has announced plans to acquire Premium Oilfield Services, LLC, a US-based well services provider specialising in fishing and plug & abandonment (P&A) operations. Premium is known for its experienced workforce and strong service reputation with major oil and gas operators.
This move is part of Archer’s strategy to expand its presence in the Gulf of Mexico, where its combined client base with Premium covers over 80% of the projected $15 billion deepwater P&A and decommissioning market through 2040.
The US$20 million acquisition will be financed through a planned private placement. It is expected to close shortly after the placement is completed, subject to standard closing conditions, including financing.
One key benefit of the deal is Archer’s acquisition of a well-maintained fleet of fishing equipment valued at $35–40 million, which will cut rental costs and boost efficiency. The acquisition will create cost and capital synergies and is expected to deliver a full return on investment within two years.
Financially, the deal is seen as highly accretive. Archer anticipates a 5% boost to annual EBITDA and an 8–10% rise in annual cash flow, based on pro-forma results and synergies. This supports the company’s strategy to increase shareholder returns and reduce debt.
This acquisition builds on Archer’s strong M&A track record. Since 2023, the company has invested around $90 million in bolt-on acquisitions, generating approximately $30 million in EBITDA, reflecting a multiple of around 3x EV/EBITDA. Archer aims to continue targeting accretive, synergy-driven deals in the well services space.
Under a new agreement, Haliburton will have the right to deploy WellSense’s FiberLine Intervention (Fli) technology for use in well stimulation monitoring.
WellSense, a subsidiary of FrontRow Energy Technology Group, will continue to deploy the technology globally for all other oil and gas applications, including well P&A, well integrity and leak detection, as well as CCUS.
CEO of WellSense, Annabel Green, said, “The successful completion of this deal is a defining moment for WellSense and for our parent company, FrontRow Energy Technology Group. Not only is it a strong industry endorsement of our technology and the value it delivers, but also our business model of bringing new and innovative solutions to market.
“Our unique bare fibre dynamic despooling technology delivers superior data quality for a detailed subsurface understanding. Unlike other well monitoring techniques, it provides a lightweight offline intervention solution with disposable probes for significant efficiency savings and reduced risk.”
Fli, which was developed 10 years ago, commenced commercial operation in 2018.
The riserless light well intervention (RLWI) market, valued at US$270.52mn in 2024, is projected to reach US$405.81mn by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 5.2%, according to Credence Research.
Key players shaping the market include Expro, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Aramco, NOV, Emdad, Baker Hughes, Oceaneering, Hunting Energy, and Nortech. These companies focus on technological innovation, vessel upgrades, and digital integration to improve efficiency and safety in offshore interventions.
Within the service segment, logging and bottom hole surveys account for over 25% of total demand. These services are critical for evaluating reservoir conditions, identifying production zones, and ensuring accurate well diagnostics without costly drilling. Operators increasingly rely on advanced downhole logging tools for real-time data, which reduces non-productive time and optimises subsea operations.
By intervention type, light interventions dominate with over 40% market share, using wireline, slickline, or coiled tubing techniques for routine tasks such as inspection, cleaning, and data collection. These methods reduce operational costs and environmental risks, making them ideal for mature offshore fields. For example, Halliburton’s ClearTrac wireline tractor can traverse highly deviated wells while carrying payloads up to 1,000 lbs efficiently.
Offshore applications account for 65% of the market, driven by rising deepwater and ultra-deepwater exploration. RLWI provides cost-effective well maintenance without heavy rigs, maintaining production efficiency and safety. The growing number of aging subsea wells in North America further reinforces offshore interventions’ importance.
North America: Market leadership and offshore dominance
North America dominates the riserless light well intervention (RLWI) market with a 35% share, supported by extensive offshore activity in the Gulf of Mexico. The region benefits from advanced offshore infrastructure, mature subsea wells, and a strong presence of leading service providers. Operators focus on extending the production life of aging wells while maintaining cost efficiency, driving consistent demand for RLWI services. Regulatory support for safe intervention practices and investments in deepwater exploration further reinforce the region’s leadership. The combination of technological expertise and high offshore activity ensures North America remains a primary market driver.
To learn more about the RLWI market in other regions, visit Credence Research’s full report here
The Gulf of Mexico’s decommissioning specialisit Promethean Energy has successfully completed a multi-client campaign in the South Timbalier lease area for the plugging and abandonment of an orphaned well on a storm-damaged platform.
The high-risk project (thanks to extensive hurricane-related structural damage) was completed sans incidents and under budget, reinforcing Promethean’s com8ittment to retiring ageing offshore infrastructure while supporting the broader goals of the BSSE’s orphaned well programme.
The project entailed reinstating well control barrier on an orphan well and completing abandonment activities. Structural instabilities, deteriorated well barrier, hydrocarbon leaks and subsurface complexities posed significant risks to the operation, yet through phased execution, proactive risk mitigation and an experienced team, the project was completed incident-free.
The initial inspection of the well was conducted in May 2025, revealing extensive damage including a missing boat landing, the heliport having been torn away, the wellhead access deck was no longer intact, and the main deck support column was detached from the stabbing guide.
The well was also venting gas from the production casing downstream of the gate valve. Drone surveys and high-res imagery uncovered severe structural compromise at a jacket leg weldment, and the desk leg had been forcibly displaced into the jacket leg, exceeding material deformation limits. The pile-to-jacket connection on the leg has also completely failed. The data and stability assessments indicated a high-risk of structural collapse.
Despite the high risks, the operator successfully executed the decommissioning project using a combination of advanced inspection tools, methodical engineering reviews and meticulous planning. The site has been secured without environmental harm.
Expro, a global provider of energy services, has set a new world record by deploying the heaviest casing string ever installed.
The achievement was made possible through the use of its advanced Blackhawk Gen III Wireless Top Drive Cement Head combined with SKYHOOK technology, during a major project in the Gulf of Mexico for a supermajor operator.
The milestone was reached aboard the Transocean Deepwater Titan, an eighth-generation ultra-deepwater drillship. With a maximum hook load capacity of 2.849 million pounds, the casing string installation surpassed all previous offshore benchmarks in deepwater well construction.
This accomplishment highlights Expro’s commitment to advancing innovation and performance in offshore well construction. The Gen III cement head with SKYHOOK is currently the industry’s only cementing system rated to three million pounds combined, designed to ensure enhanced safety, operational efficiency, and reliability in some of the harshest offshore environments.
The Blackhawk Gen III Top Drive Cement Head is specifically designed for rotating while cementing drill pipe-deployed casing strings or liners. When used with the SKYHOOK Cement Line Make-Up Device, the wireless cement heads improve safety by eliminating the requirement for personnel above the rig floor, while simultaneously boosting operational efficiency.
Engineered to withstand both full pressure and tensile capacity — rated at 15,000 psi and three million pounds respectively — the Gen III cement head was pivotal to the record-setting operation. Unlike other cementing systems that require derating under high-pressure conditions, Expro’s Gen III maintained consistent performance and integrity throughout.
The operator’s campaign is regarded as one of the most technically challenging well construction projects globally. With exceptionally high tensile loads on casing due to deep set points, the operation required a cementing solution engineered for extreme conditions. Expro applied its technical expertise to deliver a custom high-capacity cement head specifically tailored to the demands of the project.
“This deployment marks a step-change in offshore cementing, setting a new standard for ultra deep high pressure targets,” said Jeremy Angelle, Vice President of Well Construction at Expro.
“We are extremely proud to have supported this operator in achieving this critical milestone with a robust, high-performance cement head that delivered safely and reliably under record-setting loads,” Angelle added.
Following a comprehensive wireline programme, acquiring core, fluid and log data for evaluation, Talos Energy has confirmed successful drilling results from the Daenerys exploration prospect located in the US Gulf of America Walker Ridge blocks 106, 107, 150, and 151.
Drilled approximately 12 days ahead of schedule and delivered around US$16mn under budget, the West Vela deepwater drillship reached a total vertical depth of 33,228, encountering oil presence in multiple high-quality, sub-salt Miocene sands.
With the discovery well currently suspended for future use, the company is now planning to take up an appraisal well to further define the discovered resource.
"We are encouraged by the results of our Daenerys discovery well, which confirms the presence of hydrocarbons and validates our geologic and geophysical models. We believe these results support Talos's pre-drill resource assumptions. We are now working closely with our partners to design an appraisal program that will further delineate this exciting discovery. We anticipate spudding the appraisal well in the second quarter of 2026," said Talos President and Chief Executive Officer, Paul Goodfellow.
Talos, as operator, will hold a 27% working interest, Shell Offshore Inc. will hold 22.5%, Red Willow will hold 22.5%, Houston Energy, L.P. will hold 10%, Cathexis will hold 9%, and HEQ II Daenerys, LLC will hold 9%.
Following the first phase of the Dubhe-1 well programme, Pantheon Resources has successfully drilled, logged and cored the Dubhe-1 pilot hole to a total measured depth of 12,833 ft, equivalent to 8,699 ft true vertical depth.
A deviated pilot hole had to be tackled to gather cores and logs to select the optimum landing zone for a subsequent lateral sidetrack in the primary SMD-B zone. The well successfully reached the planned true vertical depth and achieved all planned target reservoir penetrations -- both primary and exploration objectives.
The primary target of Dubhe-1 was the topset horizon (SMD-B), appraising the already discovered resource. Additionally, the well was designed to encounter three further exploration horizons (Prince Creek, SMD-C and the Slope Fan System), none of which have previously had any resource estimate attributed to them. Logs confirm additional prospective resource upside in these horizons.
Post analysis of the thickness and quality of the primary target topset, the company has confirmed that the SMD-B has exceeded the upside pre-drill expectations. The gross thickness of the hydrocarbon column in this interval was measured at 565 ft true vertical thickness; exceeding pre-drill expectations by 26%.
Following this, the company plans to drill, and subsequently flow test the planned sidetrack lateral in the SMD-B horizon to refine the production well type curve.
Dubhe-1 has confirmed a gross 565 ft TVT hydrocarbon bearing column in the SMD-B primary target horizon. The hydrocarbon mix between oil, NGLs and gas will be determined after flow testing.
Erich Krumanocker, chief development officer, said, "We are delighted to announce the Dubhe-1 pilot hole results as a success. The well confirms the presence and quality of the oil and gas reservoirs in the Ahpun field, exceeding our pre-drill expectations. We are now transitioning toward field development planning in support of capital efficient commercial production. The upside presented by the SMD-C and Slope Fan zones highlights the enormous potential in our portfolio."
C-Innovation has completed the decommissioning of the Joliet tension leg platform (TLP) in the Gulf of America.
Joliet was the oldest TLP installed in the Gulf (since 1989) in 1,725ft of water. The decommissioning contract involved the MSV Island Venture, along with its ROVs, cranes and back deck support services.
Island Venture was responsible for cutting the two 8 inch and 10 inch flexible risers which were then abandoned in a pre-determined area of the sea floor.
Additionally, the scope included the detaching of 12 mooring tendons from the Joliet TLP. The tendons, each measuring over 1,700ft long, were cut into 305 separate sections aboard the Island Venture and transferred to an OSV to transport to shore.
George Wilson, Project Manager at C-Innovation, said, “The C-Innovation team executed the project safely and efficiently, competing it ahead of schedule without any accidents or incidents. Our success was driven by strong offshore leadership, careful planning, a focus on safety and the lift capacity of the Island Venture crane.
“The original agreement was for 26 days with extension options, which were exercised, bringing the total to 36 days. The contract was signed on 15 January, 2025, work began on 2 May, and the project was successfully completed on 3 June, 2025.”
Autonomous subsea software company, Nauticus Robotics, has announced the Aquanaut Mark 2 has set a new record for ultra-deepwater depth off the coast of Louisiana.
The flagship fully electric-operated underwater vehicle reached depths of 2,300 metres underwater, opening new opportunities for underwater monitoring.
Daniel Dehart, Nauticus’ VP of Field Operations, said, “I am pleased to report our vehicle has reached unprecedented ultra-deepwater depths without the need of a tether. Reaching this new depth is an exciting milestone, and we have obtained significant data on both Aquanaut and ToolKITT from these tests – particularly regarding acoustic communication challenges in ultra-deepwater.
“Our Autonomous Solutions team will spend the necessary time to analyse the new data and apply this information to optimise performance for our ultra-deep applications and across our portfolio.”
CEO John Gibson commented, “The more time we spend untethered in the water, the greater our operational and technical lead expands in the market. I want to thank our employees for their dedication to innovating for our customers and their offshore projects. I’m proud that our team is constantly finding solutions to strengthen our capabilities underwater and enhance revenue opportunities for projects at these depths.”
Helix Energy Solutions has been awarded a multi-year contract for production enhancement and well abandonment services in the Gulf of America with an undisclosed major operator.
The contract will commence next year and calls for the provision of either the Q5000 or Q4000 riser-based well intervention vessel, a 10k or 15k Intervention Riser System (IRS) and remotely operated vehicles.
Helix’s services will cover operations from fully integrated production enhancement to full integrated plug and abandonment well services.
Scotty Sparks, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, said, “We are pleased to expand our backlog by successfully executing another multi-year contract for well intervention services. This contract underscores our commitment to delivering safe, cost-effective and efficient production enhancement and abandonment services in the Gulf of America, supported by Helix’s advanced vessels, decades of industry-leading experiences, and the collaborative capabilities of our Subsea Services Alliance.”
The contract includes equipment and services as part of the Subsea Services Alliance: a strategic partnership between Helix and SLB.
Kent, the global integrated energy services partner is acquiring Exceed (XCD) Holdings Limited, to create a global leader in decommissioning, well management and sub surface engineering services.
This acquisition will strengthen Kent’s position in the fast-growing global decommissioning market, set to rise from US$8bn to US$16bn a year by 2035, as the company aims to become a full-service partner across the energy lifecycle, including late-life operations through to the safe and successful decommissioning of customer assets.
Exceed, headquartered in Aberdeen and active in over 40 countries, has two decades of experience in delivering complex offshore well projects, with over 70 wells drilled and more than 150 decommissioned to date. Its proven delivery model and track record will combine with Kent’s global platform and project execution strength to meet growing demand for safe, compliant and cost-effective end-of-life solutions for oil and gas infrastructure.
The deal could also open up significant energy transition opportunities given Exceed is already repurposing reservoirs for carbon capture and hydrogen storage projects, and Kent also has expertise in this area.
“Our agreement to acquire Exceed is a bold step into the future of responsible energy operations,” said John Gilley, CEO of Kent. “Exceed’s specialist capabilities in well and reservoir management, coupled with their strong reputation in decommissioning, complement our vision of offering full lifecycle services to our clients. Together, we will be uniquely positioned to help the industry navigate energy security, net-zero mandates, and the safe retirement of offshore assets.”
Ian Mills, Managing Director of Exceed, commented, “We’ve built Exceed over 20 years with a commitment to technical excellence, innovation and client trust. Joining forces with Kent is the natural next step. It gives us the financial backing and global reach to scale our expertise to new markets and opportunities, while preserving the same culture, entrepreneurial spirit and values that define us.”
The transaction is expected to be completed later this year.
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