Welltec brings the latest tech to Angola’s mature fields

Angola

Mathieu Wallach, Welltec’s country manager for Angola, talks to The Energy Year about the company’s latest developments, its introduction of new technologies in the local oil and gas landscape and its role in the development of mature fields. Welltec specialises in high-tech, efficient solutions for the energy industry.

What are the latest developments for Welltec’s operations in Angola?
Over the past couple of years, Welltec has experienced a notable increase in activity. We’ve made a concerted effort to stay “in touch” with the industry in which we operate; it is crucial for our company to maintain continuous improvement in the delivery of services and to meet the emerging needs of our clients.
In doing so, we’ve increased the number of personnel at our Sonils base from 60 to almost 100, plus several subcontractors. The inauguration of the new Sonils base toward the end of 2023 has facilitated further growth, improving the way we work by streamlining and optimising operations. Benefits include all-new equipment, a satellite communications system to support real-time operations in the field, improved tool maintenance areas and a fully equipped lab.
We’ve also had many clients collaborating on system integration tests. It might sound obvious, but the improved base has become a true hub for operations in the country, reinforcing our presence and strengthening the work we are undertaking.
Welltec is well established in Angola, and we’ve tripled our capacity to serve our clients, and these developments over recent years put us in a strong position.

How has your experience been with introducing new technologies into the oil and gas market?
Drilling a deepwater well requires a significant outlay. Therefore, losing a well means substantial financial and operational setbacks. To mitigate risk, oil and gas operators take a highly calculated approach to planning and tend to rely on field-proven technologies whenever possible.
In this environment, introducing new solutions implies a lot of work to demonstrate their added value. Welltec is well equipped for such a challenge through in-house design and engineering and first-rate testing facilities. I think our reputation for successfully introducing solutions that make a difference puts operators at ease, and we’ve had positive feedback from the Angolan market.
The local introduction of our Wellgrab technology platform was seamless. This is a service developed to modernise downhole fishing and other interventions requiring precise engagement with items such as downhole hardware. It combines a data-driven approach with a versatile range of interchangeable tool heads and can actually measure the engagement process.
The majority of the IOCs operating here in Angola have shown great interest in the technology, to the point where we can now say that Wellgrab is the preferred tool for relevant subsea interventions. There is both trust and an appetite for innovations that genuinely optimise operations.

What do you see as the role of Welltec in the development of mature fields?
If you look at the characteristics of domestic oil and gas, we see that we are in the mature period with reserves. Some sites are over 40 years old. This is an everyday topic of discussion with IOCs and local operators, and it poses a degree of difficulty with regard to the production levels that the country expects to reach in the coming years.
I would say there is a good reason for Angola to promote the development of mature fields. Although mature fields are less profitable for IOCs, they are still profitable for smaller local operators and beneficial for the goal of maintaining the country’s production output of 1.1 million bopd.
We are aware of the pain points for E&P companies, and we have the solutions to increase overall productivity while minimising costs. There is a big appetite for optimisation in Angola, and to that end, we have solutions that can be operated from an LWI [light well intervention] vessel to intervene on a subsea well without the need for a riser.

How is Welltec positioned to support increased drilling activity in Namibia?
Namibia is a place with many emerging opportunities. Investors have been expecting a lot for several years, and it feels as though the country is close to an inflection point.
We are certainly positive about the news and anticipation around Namibia. Our enhanced capabilities in neighbouring Angola can serve as an excellent platform to launch operations from, provide expertise and training, and support new developments when the time comes.

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• Angola
• Namibia