The LIWP is specifically engineered to empower operators to safely and cost-effectively plug and abandon aging subsea wells while minimising wellhead loads and streamlining operations

Oil States, a global provider of manufactured products and services to customers in the energy, industrial and military sectors, has announced an industry-first Low Impact Workover Package (LIWP).

The innovative technology was debuted at the SPE ICoTA 30th European Well Intervention Conference, held on November 20-21 in Aberdeen, supporting the event’s ‘Empowering Tomorrow’ theme.

Oil States brings more than four decades of engineering expertise to the international oil and gas industry and is known for supplying advanced offshore systems including drilling and completion risers, subsea connectors, subsea control packages, flexible joints as well as riser analysis.

With a deep understanding of the complexity offshore operations related to historic, fragile well systems, the LIWP is specifically engineered to empower operators to safely and cost-effectively plug and abandon aging subsea wells while minimising wellhead loads and streamlining operations.

The fully-integrated LIWP system features a uniquely positioned FlexJoint™ connector as part of the Low Riser Package (LRP), providing a 30-40 per cent reduction in wellhead loading compared to conventional intervention systems that rely on tethering systems.

This innovative design allows for a 15-degree emergency disconnect angle enabling direct pull and disconnect of the Emergency Disconnect Package (EDP) during drift-off scenarios without complex, expensive connectors.

The complete LIWP system includes the EDP, LRP and workover riser interface, and arrives pre-assembled and tested as one unit with a diameter under 49.5 inches, allowing for direct deployment through the rotary table.

The LIWP eliminates time- and cost-intensive moonpool assembly and subsea tethering operations, saving 24 hours during installation and 12 hours during retrieval and as much as $2.5 million per deployment.

"Oil States continues to pioneer innovations that promote safer and more cost-effective operations," commented Garry Stephen, Oil States’ Vice-President, UK and Asia.

"The LIWP is an important solution that allows operators to meet today’s P&A requirements while increasing operational efficiency and enhancing the safety of workover system deployment."