The Intelligent Well Interface Standardisation (IWIS) project is facilitated by OTM Networks, part of R&D consultancy Sagentia Innovation. IWIS was established to standardise aspects of intelligent well technologies enabling a level of interoperability between different vendors.

IWIS 2.0 updates the original recommendations to support growing use of advanced electric completions, which require higher power levels and more sophisticated integration with subsea control and communication systems. It introduces recommendations for power, communications and mechanical interfaces, alongside safety and redundancy considerations.

A central feature of IWIS 2.0 is the introduction of an IWE Interface Module, for supply by downhole equipment vendors. This provides a standardised package for the larger, high-power interface electronics required by advanced electric completions, while allowing greater design flexibility and simplifying integration and qualification.

OTM has facilitated IWIS since the initiative was established, with the latest update involving 18 months of collaboration.

“Creating common ground between operators and technology companies is really important,” says Shreekant Mehta, Senior Vice President, Energy Sector at Sagentia Innovation. “By working together, they have developed recommended practice that reflects the realities of intelligent well applications, technologies and operating environments. IWIS 2.0 will help reduce duplication and integration effort, providing a practical route for new intelligent well technologies to work within evolving subsea architectures.”

The updated practice is intended to inform future revisions to API 17F Annex G for electric completions. It has also been developed with the intent to align with Subsea Instrumentation Interface Standardisation (SIIS) Level 3, which is being updated to level 3.1 and will include T1L Ethernet communications.

Operators involved in the IWIS 2.0 project include AkerBP, bp, Equinor, Petrobras, Shell and TotalEnergies. Technology companies include: Baker Hughes, Emerson, Halliburton, Metrol, SLB OneSubsea, TechnipFMC, Teledyne and Weatherford.

IWIS 2.0 is now available for download on the IWIS website.