Reelwell
Feb 10, 2026
DualLink’s powered wired drill pipe saves two weeks of rig time during plug and abandonment operation in North America.
DualLink’s powered wired drill pipe saves two weeks of rig time during plug and abandonment operation in North America.
Reelwell has completed the first commercial deployment of its DualLink™ powered wired drill pipe system in North America, delivering a major step forward in well intervention efficiency and precision.
The project, executed for a large international operator in collaboration with Gunnar Energy Services and Nabors Industries, marks a significant milestone in well intervention technology. The success confirms DualLink’s potential to redefine how complex plug and abandonment (P&A) operations are executed.
By enabling the transmission of both electrical power and high-speed data downhole, DualLink allowed continuous real-time ranging while drilling. The approach eliminated the need for multiple wireline runs, reduced operational risk, and saved an estimated two weeks of rig time.
Field-Proven Power and Performance
During the operation, 8,500 feet of DualLink drill string were deployed with 100% uptime over 17 runs. The system delivered up to 2,450 watts at 35 amps peak current and achieved 113 kbps data rates, maintaining reliable performance throughout.
The technology powered Gunnar Energy Services’ DeadAhead™ Active Magnetic Ranging system, providing a continuous, high strength ranging signal. Real-time data allowed the operator to steer the intercept well within five to ten feet of the target over 4,600 feet of parallel tracking – a level of precision not achievable with conventional methods.
Efficiency and Accuracy in Abandonment
The project involved the permanent abandonment of a legacy well that had resisted earlier interventions. Previous attempts using traditional methods had failed, making a new intercept well the only viable solution. High-resistivity formations and oil-based mud further complicated the task.
Traditionally, such operations would require 10 to 20 wireline runs to establish well position. Using DualLink, the team accessed continuous ranging data directly at surface, eliminating repeated trips and wireline activity. The intercept was achieved on the first attempt, with hydraulic communication confirmed and cement plugs successfully placed under regulatory supervision.
“This deployment marks an important milestone for DualLink™ and electrically powered enabled drilling technologies,” said Ian Silvester, CEO Reelwell North & South America. “Delivering both power and data through the drill string gives operators a new level of control, efficiency, and confidence in complex well operations.”
Clinton Moss, CEO Gunnar Energy Services stated “Gunnar’s DeadAhead™ AMR While Drilling system powered by Reelwell’s DualLink™ presents the step-change the industry has been asking for. With far greater range and higher accuracy than wireline-conveyed systems, we cut weeks of rig time and intercepted, killed, milled, and re-entered the target exactly on depth.”
“Through our partnership with Reelwell we are enabling greater efficiency gains for our customers” commented Subodh Saxena, Sr. Vice President, Canrig and Nabors Drilling Solutions (NDS). “Reducing the number of wireline ranging runs is a significant advantage when executing P&A operations. With this successful deployment, we are confident in the technology’s ability to perform in complex well interventions.”
DualLink proved to be reliable and extremely robust, handled like regular drillpipe. Its success in this first deployment establishes it as an enabling technology for advanced well operations including relief wells, geothermal development and carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) projects where accuracy and control are critical.
With this milestone, Reelwell continues to demonstrate how powered and wired drill pipe can reshape the future of safe, efficient, and data-driven drilling.
Download the case study below.