DNV acquires Equinor digital solution to enhance subsea wellhead fatigue management

DNV has agreed to acquire WellSpot, a digital solution that Equinor has developed and operated over the past 15 years. Renamed Wellhead Fatigue Manager, the software will be commercialized and operated by DNV, supporting operators and partners engaged in wellhead fatigue management while ensuring that users’ data remains secure. The platform enables offshore operators to safely monitor, assess and manage wellhead fatigue throughout the entire lifecycle of subsea wells, bringing all relevant data and analysis together in a single, integrated solution.

A subsea wellhead is equipment that provides structural support and pressure control for an oil, gas or other type of well. Wellhead fatigue occurs with overloading or potential fatigue failure of its components caused by repeated cyclic loading over time.

Developed by Equinor, the solution brings together data, analysis and standardized workflows into one environment, supporting more informed decision-making, quality assured data, operational safety and efficiency. By enabling a more systematic approach to fatigue risk and better control of accumulated fatigue damage, the platform can support the planning and execution of necessary interventions, while helping operators extend the service life of subsea wells and make more efficient use of existing infrastructure. Data stored in the solution is only accessible to the individual operator and its authorized partners ; no data is shared across operators or between companies.

DNV will continue to invest in the development of Wellhead Fatigue Manager, regularly enhancing the software and introducing new features to meet evolving industry needs. This ongoing commitment will ensure the platform remains aligned with the latest technical standards, best practices and cybersecurity requirements.

Well fatigue assessments have traditionally been performed using fragmented tools and bespoke workflows across multiple providers. DNV’s approach consolidates these processes into a unified, digital solution, enabling a shift from one-off engineering assessments to continuous, data-driven management.

The Wellhead Fatigue Manager integrates DNV’s established methodology (DNV-RP-E104) with scalable digital capabilities, allowing operators to track, analyse, and manage fatigue performance throughout the life of a well. This supports more consistent assessments and improves the ability to act on complex data. DNV-RP-E104 was developed with the support of 16 international operators and 6 engineering companies and has until today been in use by more than 400 companies in 55 countries. 

Prajeev Rasiah, DNV
Prajeev Rasiah, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, Northern Europe, Energy Systems at DNV

“Offshore operators are increasingly looking to improve the performance of their subsea operations, and providing better insight and consistency across assets through data enabled digital solutions is a way to help them,” said Prajeev Rasiah, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, Northern Europe, Energy Systems at DNV. “By integrating our industry-recognized methodology into a scalable digital platform, we enable a more proactive and continuous approach to wellhead fatigue management, helping to improve safety while optimizing operational performance.”

The solution builds on DNV’s extensive expertise in well integrity, subsea operations, and structural engineering - drawing on the DNV-RP-E104 recommended practice for wellhead fatigue analysis - alongside advanced software development and data analytics capabilities. It is designed to support a broad range of offshore developments and operating conditions.

Petter Mathisen, DNV
Petter Mathisen, Product Manager for the Wellhead Fatigue Manager at DNV

“Moving from fragmented analyses to a continuous, integrated approach represents an important step forward for the industry,” said Petter Mathisen, Product Manager for the Wellhead Fatigue Manager at DNV. “It allows operators to better understand risk over time and make decisions that are both safer and more cost-efficient.”

The initiative reflects DNV’s broader strategy to scale digital, software-enabled services within the energy sector, combining domain expertise with data-driven tools to deliver more consistent and scalable solutions across regions.

Equinor and AkerBP are the first users of the DNV operated Wellhead Fatigue Manager. Through frequent user forum meetings and more operators being onboarded, the technology developed in the Wellhead Fatigue manager will be available for a wider range of users, helping the industry work smarter together with available data. 

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About DNV
DNV is an independent assurance and risk management provider, operating in more than 100 countries, with the purpose of safeguarding life, property, and the environment. Whether assessing a new ship design, qualifying technology for a floating wind farm, analyzing sensor data from a gas pipeline, or certifying a food company's supply chain, DNV enables its customers and their stakeholders to manage technological and regulatory complexity with confidence. As a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful organizations, we use our broad experience and deep expertise to advance safety and sustainable performance, set industry standards, and inspire and invent solutions.

In the energy industry
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