Q&A With Reelwell: Reelwell CEO Says Wired Pipe’s Moment Has Arrived With North Sea Debut

_ Reelwell’s DualLink wired drillpipe is heading offshore for the first time, set to make its debut later this year in a campaign with Vår Energi on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The Stavanger-based technology developer sees the project as more than a milestone—it’s a chance to shift the narrative around wired pipe, a technology first brought to the market by NOV more than 2 decades ago. Challenged by high costs and integration hurdles, earlier generations of wired pipe never quite found widespread adoption. But Reelwell says it’s ready to change that. The DualLink system delivers real-time telemetry and, in a notable evolution, brings high-wattage downhole power into play for the first time. In this Q&A with JPT, Svein Strømberg, Reelwell’s newly appointed CEO and 31-year veteran of Baker Hughes, unpacks the company’s strategy as it prepares to put its most advanced technology to work offshore Norway. Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for length and clarity. JPT: What does Reelwell bring to the table that the industry hasn’t seen before? SS: DualLink delivers high-speed data from the bottomhole assembly (BHA) to surface and high power from surface to the downhole BHA, enabling real-time transmission of both data and electrical power. It transmits at rates up to 56 kilobits per second (kbps), which is a significant leap compared to conventional mud pulse systems that typically operate between 1 and 30 bps. That level of bandwidth opens the door to much more detailed and frequent tool updates. But the real differentiator is electrical power. Our wired pipe can deliver up to 500 W downhole at present, enabling tools and functionality that simply are not possible with telemetry alone. Whether it’s active flow control, tool actuation, or high-power sensors, having a reliable power source changes what’s technically feasible today. Right now, surface certification standards place some limits on how much power can be supplied, but the system itself is built to scale. It is fully redundant and engineered to support greater capacity as requirements evolve. And for many current applications, 500 W is already more than enough to drive meaningful gains in capability. In our conversations with leading exploration and production companies, both in Norway and the US, the data speed was compelling, but what really stood out was the power. That’s what they saw as the key to enabling the next generation of downhole tools, and it has played a major role in recent contract awards. DualLink isn’t just about faster data, it’s about unlocking a smarter, more capable downhole environment. More broadly, we’re entering a market that has long been defined by a single legacy provider. That kind of landscape can limit innovation. With new players emerging, including Reelwell, we believe the increased competition will help accelerate the adoption of wired-pipe technologies and expand what’s possible in drilling operations. JPT: Considering the industry’s historical reluctance to invest in wired drillpipe, how is Reelwell overcoming legacy obstacles and advancing the case for wider use? SS: There’s been hesitation in the past as wired pipe was often seen as expensive, complex, and difficult to plan for, especially when decisions had to be made a year in advance. And for some, the value wasn’t clearly understood. But I’m confident our upcoming work offshore in Norway will demonstrate that the landscape is changing. The benefits are becoming too significant to ignore.