Halliburton has signed a framework agreement with Shell to provide umbilical-less tubing hanger installation and retrieval services using its Remote Operated Control System (ROCS) technology. The multi-well agreement follows a successful three-well technology phase in the Gulf of America, where ROCS demonstrated measurable gains in speed, safety and operational precision.
“This agreement signals a shift in deepwater operations,” said Josh Sears, senior vice president of Halliburton’s Drilling and Evaluation division. “ROCS’s speed, precision, and safety benefits offer operators a reliable, cost-effective alternative to conventional methods—one that positions the system for broader adoption throughout global rig fleets.”
ROCS is a compact, umbilical-less control system that replaces conventional hydraulic setups, reducing surface pressure risks and minimizing personnel exposure. The system has been deployed across multiple offshore regions, including the Norwegian Continental Shelf, West Africa, and the Gulf of America, where it recently set a new global benchmark with the installation of a tubing hanger at 8,458 ft—the deepest umbilical-less operation completed to date.
Developed by Optime, a Halliburton service, the ROCS platform enhances efficiency by reducing deck operations by up to 75%, shortening running and pulling times, and improving downhole line testing. The technology’s track record underscores its growing role in enabling safer, smarter well completions in deepwater environments.
As global operators seek to optimize offshore development under increasingly complex conditions, Halliburton’s ROCS solution offers a proven pathway to higher efficiency, lower operational risk, and faster project delivery in subsea completions.
