Equinor WLR Guideposts

The part we developed is called the WLR Guidepost, which is part of a system that reduces the amount of force applied to the wellhead on the seabed.

The wellhead is a critical component that protrudes from the well on the seabed, and damage to it is therefore undesirable and can lead to leaks. In the past, large forces were applied to the wellhead, which could lead to the well having to be shut in earlier for safety reasons. The WLR system that our guideposts are part of relieves the wellhead and extends its lifespan. We were responsible for the entire process, from design and engineering to production, installation and testing. In the project, we used our background in drilling and well intervention, and took it over to subsea to develop good solutions. See the guide posts here.

Testing was an important part of the process, and we had to recreate high force situations to test the equipment. We also worked with a third party to ensure that the testing was as realistic as possible. The system worked as intended on the first attempt and is now being used on the Norwegian continental shelf. The result has been an effective solution that extends the lifetime of the wellhead and contributes to more sustainable production. In 2020, Equinor Energy AS and EnergyX entered into a 5-year framework agreement with an option for a further 3 years, and the delivery was made under this agreement.

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