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Issue 103 · April 2026

Well Management

Inside the April issue of GEN Magazine: how Interwell restored a subsea gas producer from 70% water cut to 0.6%, plus well integrity, decommissioning and intervention features from Elemental Energies, CAN Group, Vulcan Completions, Sureclean and more.

  • Issue Number 103
  • Published
  • Theme Well Management
  • Pages 48
  • Cover Sponsor Interwell
Magazine cover
From the Editor

Welcome to the April 2026 issue

Dan Hyland European Director, GEN

Welcome to the April issue of GEN Magazine, where this month we are exploring the theme of well management. A big thank you to our front cover star Interwell, where this month you can read all about their water shut off solution that cut water production from 70% to 0.6% on a subsea gas well.

We are also delighted to welcome contributions in this edition from Elemental Energies, CAN Group, Intervention Rentals, Vulcan Completion Products, AMS Global, Sureclean and NRG Group. The rest of this month's magazine as always provides you with a review of the energy sector across the North Sea, Europe, Norway, the Middle East, USA and Australia, along with industry analysis and project updates.

Thanks as always to our corporate partners, Dräger, PD&MS, Osso, Cegal, Stats Group, Wellpro, Elementz, Leyton, Archer Well, Elemental Energies, Opito, QHSE, Brodies LLP, Tess, Intervention Rentals, Vulcan, Viper Innovations, Infinity Partnership, RCP, Scotsbridge and of course our corporate travel partner ATPI and logistics partner Petrasco.

Cover Story

Unwanted Water? Shut It Off. Take Back Control.

In partnership with Interwell

A subsea gas producer faced a rapidly rising water cut after a failed OH packer compromised annular barrier integrity. Unwanted water began entering the well, driving up operational costs and threatening production stability. As water levels surged, the well was pushed toward premature shut-in, putting the asset at risk and exposing the operator to significant abandonment costs.

Precision Isolation

A focused annulus isolation strategy was deployed to shut off the water source at its origin. The solution combined a horizontal CannSeal annulus isolation across 4 metres with HEX RPB technology to deliver robust, long-term zonal isolation. This precise, engineered approach enabled effective water shut-off while preserving overall well integrity.

Production Restored

The intervention reduced water cut from 70 percent to just 0.6 percent, successfully restoring and increasing production. A sustained drawdown of 1,300 psi improved well performance and extended productive life. By isolating the unwanted water source, the operator avoided high abandonment costs and regained full control of the asset.

70% → 0.6%
Water cut reduction
1,300 psi
Sustained drawdown improvement
4 metres
Horizontal CannSeal isolation

Lower Cost

Reduced intervention cost against full workover alternatives.

Reduced Risk

Permanent zonal isolation without compromising well integrity.

Extended Life

Avoided premature shut-in and high abandonment costs.

Learn more at Interwell.com

Contributors

Featured Articles

Elemental Energies: Rethinking Completion Design Through Integration

How Elemental Energies is supporting operators across well integrity, intervention and decommissioning with integrated subsurface and wells engineering.

Page 28 Ken Macrae & Mike Byrne

When geomechanical models highlight that sand control is required, there are several key considerations in optimising the lower completion. The primary goal is to evaluate and mitigate the risks associated with sand production and formation damage, selecting the most appropriate lower completion solution to ensure efficient and safe extraction of reservoir fluids.

In addition to erosion risks, key completion decisions such as gravel pack versus standalone sand screen, and the deployment of inflow control devices including their sizing and location, can all be optimised when combined into a full computational fluid dynamics model of the well inflow. This approach identifies areas of higher velocity and accurately assesses hot-spotting and erosion, a considerable improvement on rules of thumb that can over or underestimate erosion risks.

Geomechanics and well engineering working together

Geomechanics plays a fundamental role in the well construction and completion selection process. Developing a model showing the timing and extent of formation failure will highlight the requirement for sand control. Alternatives such as oriented perforating and hydraulic fractures can also be reviewed with geomechanical modelling.

Completion design must balance performance, operability and long-term integrity. Applying practical well engineering experience ensures solutions are not only technically robust but executable in real operating environments. By aligning design with operational realities, risks are reduced and delivery becomes more predictable from planning through to execution.

Advanced numerical modelling

CFD modelling provides a deeper understanding of flow behaviour and clean-up performance. By quantifying formation damage, inflow dynamics and fluid interactions, uncertainty can be reduced early in the design process. Combining CFD model output with dynamic flow simulation software results in higher quality inputs such as inflow profiles, supporting the development of superior dynamic clean-up models.

At Elemental Energies, innovation sits at the heart of completion engineering, achieved by integrating multi-disciplinary teams with a broad set of transferable skills. Specialists in CFD and finite element analysis continue to develop new ways to support clients across oil and gas, carbon capture and geothermal energy projects.

Find out more at elementalenergies.com → ↑ Back to articles

CAN Group: 40 Years of CAN-Do

Inside CAN Group's approach to inspection, monitoring and integrity assurance across operating and late-life assets.

Page 30 Sponsored feature

CAN Group is proud to mark 40 years in business, celebrating four decades of innovation, care, resilience and excellence within the asset integrity arena. What began in April 1986 as a pioneering idea, introducing rope access offshore in the North Sea as a more cost-effective alternative to traditional scaffolding, quickly set new standards and became a tried, tested and trusted method of access across the energy industry.

From the outset CAN has continued to challenge traditional approaches, not simply to work differently but to work smarter, reducing risk, improving safety and delivering operational success for its clients. Driven by this approach, CAN's foundations in rope access and trades-based remediation services expanded to meet the challenges of the evolving energy industry, transitioning into mainstream inspection and advanced non-destructive testing services, and later adding engineering elements including integrity and inspection management services and vendor assurance.

Headquartered in Aberdeen, operating worldwide

Headquartered in Aberdeen, the CAN Group of companies today deliver a comprehensive range of innovative and integrated asset integrity services and solutions to the energy industry worldwide, from strategic locations in the UK, North America and West Africa. Key to the success and sustainability of CAN are its people, corporate competence and their CAN-Do attitude, delivering the full range of solutions safely and with integrity.

CAN has evolved to have one of the most comprehensive UKAS accredited scopes as a Type C Independent Inspection Body, and was the first company in the UK to be accredited for Integrity Management to ISO 17020, assuring clients of independence, impartiality and a best-in-class service. Most recently, CAN collaborated with a major operator in the energy industry to deliver Angola's first remote Class Approved inspection.

Learn more at cangroup.net → ↑ Back to articles

Vulcan Launches New High-Pressure Casing Product

Engineered completion components designed for reliable, long-term performance in demanding downhole environments.

By Mark Dundee, Vice-President, Vulcan Completion Products Page 33

Vulcan Completion Products has launched the first of a series of new completion tools, MAGMASEAL, engineered for high pressure casing applications including fracturing operations. Established in 2017, Vulcan delivers specialist completion products across the Caspian, APAC and other international regions, with a portfolio protected by 57 patents.

MAGMASEAL is designed for challenging pressure integrity applications. By eliminating the traditional requirement for a separate test tool run, it simplifies completion design and reduces rig time. The product has recently been qualified through an extended test programme including cyclic pressure and temperature testing, alongside gas tightness verification.

Vulcan has recently strengthened its global QA/QC capability to support growing international demand, with expanded presence in the Caspian and APAC regions. The launch of MAGMASEAL represents the first step in a broader roadmap of new completion products scheduled for release over the next 18 months.

More at vulcan-cp.com → ↑ Back to articles

Sureclean: Embedding Radiological Expertise to Redefine NORM Management

Sureclean embeds radiological protection expertise in-house with the appointment of Karen Gunn as Radiological Director, setting it apart from contractors that rely on external advisors.

By Karen Gunn, Radiological Director, Sureclean Page 36

For years, projects involving naturally occurring radioactive material have relied on external advisory support and multiple interfaces between contractors, operators and regulators. That fragmented model creates governance gaps, increased exposure risk and unnecessary duplication. At Sureclean, we have built our approach around embedding compliance within execution.

With the appointment of Karen Gunn as Radiological Director, Sureclean is embedding senior Radiation Protection Adviser and Radioactive Waste Adviser expertise directly within its operational structure, setting the company apart from traditional NORM contractors that rely on external advisory support. Regulatory interpretation, operational design and waste governance now sit under one accountable delivery model.

One model, from assurance to execution

Through this integrated model, Sureclean delivers assurance through embedded expertise supported by digital traceability. The industry is moving away from the fragmented governance typical of older NORM contracts and toward integrated delivery where advisory authority, operational design and waste management sit together rather than across multiple vendors.

At Sureclean, this is not a future ambition. It is the delivery model operating today, designed to reduce exposure risk for personnel, simplify regulatory interfaces for operators and ensure radioactive waste is managed responsibly across the lifecycle of decommissioning projects.

More at sureclean.com → ↑ Back to articles

Intervention Rentals: Specialised Kit, Rapidly Deployed

Rental-led well intervention solutions that reduce lead times and keep capital off the balance sheet.

Page 32

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More at interventionrentals.com → ↑ Back to articles

AMS Global Group: Well Services With Global Reach

AMS Global's service portfolio across production enhancement, well integrity and project delivery.

Page 34

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Visit website → ↑ Back to articles

NRG Group: Services Aligned to the Well Lifecycle

NRG Group's combined offering for operators balancing production, intervention and abandonment priorities.

Page 35

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Visit website → ↑ Back to articles

Brodies LLP: Legal Perspectives on Well Decommissioning

Brodies' energy team on decommissioning liability, contracting structures and regulatory developments.

Page 38

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More at brodies.com → ↑ Back to articles

Leyton: R&D Tax Credits for Energy Innovators

How Leyton is helping energy companies unlock innovation funding through R&D tax claims and capital allowances.

Page 39

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More at leyton.com → ↑ Back to articles

ATPI: Corporate Travel for the Energy Sector

GEN's corporate travel partner ATPI on supporting energy organisations with specialist travel and event management.

Page 46Travel management partner

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More at atpi.com → ↑ Back to articles
Network News

This month across the GEN network

Decommissioning

Sureclean embeds radiological expertise in-house

Sureclean has appointed senior radiological protection expert Karen Gunn as Radiological Director, marking a decisive step in its mission to become the global leader in NORM decontamination. The move brings Radiation Protection Adviser and Radioactive Waste Adviser expertise directly into Sureclean's operational structure.

Services

JMSL launches integrated service model

JMSL has completed a strategic realignment of its services, introducing defined delivery models across manpower, fabrication and project services to support integrated project execution. The updated structure forms part of a three-year growth strategy.

Guyana

ABL wins Hammerhead marine warranty survey contract

Energy and marine consultancy ABL has been contracted to provide marine warranty survey services for the marine operations and installation activities on ExxonMobil's Hammerhead development offshore Guyana, the seventh Stabroek block development.

Offshore Wind

Interocean partners with JERA Nex bp

Interocean Marine Services has signed a Master Services Agreement with JERA Nex bp covering specialist marine consultancy and assurance services in support of North Sea and global offshore wind operations, mobilising from Aberdeen.

Aberdeen

Brimmond marks 30 years with record performance

Aberdeenshire engineering specialist Brimmond is celebrating 30 years in business after delivering the strongest financial performance in its history. The Kintore-based firm has grown from a hydraulic hose repair business to a global supplier across energy, marine, aquaculture, defence and renewables.

Middle East

Petrasco maintains UAE operations amid regional developments

Petrasco Energy Logistics continues to support clients across the UAE and wider Middle East, implementing enhanced monitoring and operational protocols while placing the highest priority on the safety and wellbeing of employees, partners and clients.

GEN Intel

Project tracker and regional updates

Issue 103 carries the April snapshot of GEN's project tracker alongside regional reviews covering the North Sea, Europe, Norway, the Middle East, the United States and Australia. Full data across tenders, M&A, FIDs, rigs and vessels is published continuously through our GEN Intel reports.

GEN View

Well management sits at the intersection of production economics and asset retirement. Operators who invest in targeted interventions early, as Interwell's subsea case shows, often recover multiples of their spend in extended field life and deferred abandonment cost. The months ahead will test that discipline against a volatile commodity backdrop.

Decommissioning & Contracts

Contract activity and late-life asset news

Issue 103 rounds out with a review of recent decommissioning contract awards across the North Sea and a look at global events on the GEN calendar, including the West African Energy Summit coming to London in December 2026.

Read Issue 103 in full

Flip through the complete issue online. For past editions visit the GEN Magazine archive.