In May 2026, the JV PPC team took part in the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in
Houston, Texas, USA. OTC is one of the world’s leading oil and gas industry events, bringing
together exploration and production (E&P) companies, oilfield service providers, equipment
manufacturers, and digital technology developers from around the globe.
The delegation focused on assessing practical solutions that could be effectively integrated
into Ukrainian oil and gas fields. Despite the conference’s offshore focus, many of the
technologies presented are equally applicable to onshore operations.
One of the most practical areas involved through-tubing well intervention technologies that
do not require pulling the production tubing or mobilizing a full workover rig. These include
bridge plugs, packers, well barrier systems, and solutions for restoring well integrity and
conducting remedial cementing and zonal isolation operations through the tubing.
“These technologies make it possible to perform interventions faster and at a lower cost than
conventional well workovers. For Ukrainian fields with large well stocks at mature stages of
development, they could become one of the most effective tools for increasing production
and extending asset life,” said Vitalii Dorohan, CEO of JV PPC.
A separate section of OTC 2026 was dedicated to digital twins and real-time asset
monitoring systems. These solutions enable operators to create digital representations of
production facilities, monitor equipment condition, and predict potential failures before they
occur. In the context of Ukrainian gas production, they are particularly relevant to
compressor stations, gas processing and treatment facilities, and power-generation
equipment. Digital technologies can reduce the risk of unplanned shutdowns and improve
predictive maintenance planning.
Another trend highlighted across many technical sessions was the rapid adoption of artificial
intelligence (AI). AI is increasingly being used to analyze production data, predict operational
issues during well production, monitor equipment health, and support engineering decision-
making. Importantly, these applications have moved beyond pilot projects and are already
being deployed at operating production facilities.
The exhibition also featured a wide range of modular gas processing, gas compression, and
autonomous power-generation systems. Skid-mounted and modular solutions can reduce
project execution and facility commissioning schedules by several months compared with
conventional stick-built construction. They can also lower capital expenditures (CAPEX) due
to the high degree of factory fabrication and the reduced amount of field installation work
required. This is particularly relevant to Ukraine, given the need to rapidly restore and
expand production infrastructure.
Drilling innovations included automated well construction systems, particularly Baker
Hughes’ Kantori™ solution, which integrates digital planning, workflow automation, and
drilling optimization to reduce non-productive time (NPT).
“Promising areas include carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), hydrogen
technologies, and the repurposing of existing wells and production infrastructure. For
Ukraine, these solutions remain largely a long-term opportunity; however, certain
technologies may already prove valuable in the modernization of production facilities,” said
Serhii Veldiaksov, Head of JV PPC’s Service Department.
The outcomes of OTC 2026 suggest that the technologies with the greatest practical
potential for Ukrainian operators are those capable of rapidly improving the performance of
mature fields, reducing well intervention and workover costs, and minimizing equipment
downtime. Priority areas include through-tubing well intervention, advanced well integrity and
zonal isolation technologies, digital asset monitoring, and modular solutions for gas
processing and autonomous power generation. These technologies could deliver significant
improvements in the reliability, efficiency, and productivity of Ukraine’s gas production sector.