Navin Balakrishnan
E Plug’s modular, data-driven technologies offer operators scalable, rig-less solutions to help them reduce cost, rig time and emissions while enhancing well integrity in challenging environments
E Plug is advancing well intervention and abandonment in the Middle East with rig-less, data-driven technologies tailored for high pressure, high temperature (HPHT), high CO2 and corrosive well environments. Its solutions are supporting safer, low-emission operations by reducing the need for heavy rigs.
'Our tools like the Electric Manipulation Tool (EMT), TorcPuncher and TorcDesperado are gaining interest from NOCs in Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman. Our E-Line deployable, modular design enables high-precision real-time control, ensuring minimal surface footprint and improved operational efficiency,' Navin Balakrishnan, E Plug Vice-President – Middle East, exclusively tells OGN energy magazine.
Below are excerpts from the interview:
Can you briefly tell us what E Plug does?
At E Plug, we are redefining well intervention and abandonment solutions through agile, data-driven technologies backed by a relentless spirit of grit and perseverance.
As a forward-thinking technology company – not a conventional oilfield services provider – we pride ourselves on our rapid response times, modular rig-less solutions, and an unwavering drive to close technology gaps in the region.
Our core values centre on innovation, operational integrity, and resilience, enabling us to deliver scalable solutions that meet the evolving needs of national oil companies.
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E Plug’s new facility in Doha, Qatar |
E Plug is purpose-built to adapt quickly, act decisively, and overcome challenges head-on.
From humble beginnings, we’ve navigated complex technical, operational, and market hurdles to become a trusted partner in well intervention and abandonment.
Explain how E Plug is adapting its rig-less technologies for operational and well integrity challenges faced by Middle Eastern operators?
E Plug’s rig-less technologies are purpose-built to address the complex and evolving well integrity challenges faced by operators in the Middle East.
Our solutions, such as the Electric Manipulation Tool (EMT), TorcPlug and TorcDesperado, are engineered for HPHT conditions, and rigorously tested for sour gas environments and high CO2 exposure, where material integrity and sealing reliability are critical.
We’ve enhanced our tool metallurgy and elastomer selection to ensure long-term performance in corrosive and high-pressure environments.
Meanwhile, electro-mechanical design allows for precise control, real-time diagnostics, and minimal surface footprint, making them ideal for offshore assets where rig time is costly and logistics are complex.
We’re not just adapting tools- we’re co-engineering solutions with operators to meet the region’s toughest well integrity scenarios. This collaborative approach ensures our technologies are aligned with both operational realities and strategic goals of Middle Eastern energy producers.
How does E Plug’s rig-less, data driven P&A approach contribute to emission reductions and safer well abandonment?
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The TorcPlug offers operations with high reliability and minimal surface footprint |
E Plug’s rig-less intervention systems operate with real-time control and diagnostics, enabling precise, efficient execution of plug and abandonment (P&A) operations without the need for heavy rigs.
This significantly reduces emissions by minimising fuel consumption, logistics, and personnel exposure.
Our tools are controlled on-site by trained personnel and our systems also support remote monitoring and control, allowing operators to make informed decisions in real time.
This dual capability enhances both safety and operational flexibility, especially in offshore or logistically constrained environments.
In the Middle East, we’ve built considerable experience with one of the region’s major operators, and we are now working to replicate this successful setup with other key players in Qatar and across the GCC.
These efforts are supported by strong interest in our rig-less approach to well abandonment.
To support knowledge sharing, E Plug authored three SPE papers in 2024 detailing our technology and field learnings. These will be available at our stand at MEOS GEO 2025.
How receptive have NOCs in the Gulf been to E Plug’s rig-less and data driven intervention solutions?
NOCs across the Gulf have shown a strong interest in E Plug’s rig-less intervention technologies, particularly as they seek to reduce operational costs, improve safety, and align with broader sustainability goals.
Our engagements in Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UAE have revealed a clear appetite for low-footprint, wireline-deployed solutions that can be integrated into existing well abandonment workflows.
We are actively working with several NOCs to address specific requirements, such as tool qualification for sour gas and high CO2 environments, compatibility with existing well architectures, and local content development.
While we’ve made strong progress, we are still navigating technical and procedural challenges that come with introducing new technologies into established operational frameworks.
That said, the potential for broader adoption is strong, and we remain committed to building long-term partnerships.
Are you currently engaged in any commercial deployments or field trials in the Middle East?
Yes, we have successfully deployed our TorcPlug solution commercially for a major operator in the Middle East.
This deployment delivered significant efficiency gains and has since reshaped the client’s operational strategy.
One of the SPE papers we referenced earlier is based on this deployment and the insights gained from the field.
We are currently in active discussions with several operators across the GCC, with a focus on onshore mature gas wells that require efficient, low-impact plug and abandonment (P&A) solutions.
Initial feedback from these engagements has been very positive, particularly regarding the wireline deployability, multi-set capability, and real-time control features of our tools, which are seen as key differentiators in the region.
In terms of tangible outcomes, what measurable improvements have been achieved by clients using your technology compared to conventional methods?
Our clients have reported 30–50 per cent reduction in rig time; up to 15 per cent cost savings in plug and abandonment (P&A) operations; and significant emissions reductions by eliminating the need for heavy rigs and associated logistics.
For example, in a recent offshore campaign in Southeast Asia, the TorcPlug enabled operators to save 2-3 days per well, translating into both financial and environmental benefits.
These results are now being used as benchmarks for upcoming projects in the Middle East, where similar well conditions and cost-efficiency goals apply.
How do you see data shaping the future of well abandonment globally, and where do you believe Middle Eastern operators stand in this transition?
Data-driven decision-making is a key enabler for the future of both well abandonment and well intervention.
Globally, there is a clear shift toward evidence-based workflows, not only in P&A but also in intervention.
In the Middle East, we see growing momentum among operators to adopt data-backed, low-impact solutions that can scale across both intervention and decommissioning programs.
What insights have you drawn from your other markets that could directly benefit your Middle Eastern clients?
Each region contributes unique insights. From the North Sea, we’ve adopted a strong focus on real-time verification, tool reliability, and regulatory compliance, all of which are increasingly relevant to operators in the Middle East as they scale up well decommissioning programs.
In the Asia-Pacific, we’ve learned to streamline logistics and deployment models, which has helped us improve efficiency in remote or infrastructure-limited environments.
Our R&D team plays a central role in translating these insights into practical tool enhancements and our Doha office plays a central role in adapting these global insights to regional realities, ensuring that our solutions are both technically robust and operationally relevant.
During Tech Day 2025 in Qatar, which solutions resonated most with regional clients, and have any pilot projects or trials been initiated as a result?
Tech Day 2025 in Qatar was a key milestone for E Plug. Our multi-set TorcPlug and Electric Manipulation Tool (EMT) stood out for their ability to deliver rig-less, E-Line-deployed P&A operations with high reliability and minimal surface footprint.
Following the event, we have seen growing interest across the region, not just offshore, but also in onshore assets. We are currently in advanced discussions for pilot deployments in Qatar and Oman.
These engagements reflect a clear appetite for cost-effective, low-carbon intervention technologies that align with national sustainability goals.
By Abdulaziz Khattak
E Plug will be exhibiting at Stand 8,G80 at MEOS GEO 2025.