Offshore workover manufacturers
Offshore Workover Rig Technical Specifications – HXJ Series & Hydraulic Units
SOFE Platform‑Mounted Workover Rigs – HXJ Series (Representative)
| Parameter | HXJ135 | HXJ180 | HXJ225 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum rated hook load (kN / tons) | 1,350 kN (135 tons) | 1,800 kN (180 tons) | 2,250 kN (225 tons) |
| Mast type | Two‑section front‑opening telescopic | Two‑section front‑opening telescopic | Two‑section front‑opening telescopic |
| Mast height (m/ft) | 33 m (108 ft) | 35 m (115 ft) | 39 m (128 ft) |
| Mounting | Skid‑mounted (platform deck) | Skid‑mounted | Skid‑mounted |
| Workover depth (2-⅞″ tubing, typical) | Up to 5,000 m | Up to 7,000 m | Up to 9,000 m |
| Traveling system | 4×5 | 4×5 | 5×6 |
| Lifting method | Hydraulic cylinders | Hydraulic cylinders | Hydraulic cylinders |
| API compliance | API 4F, 7K, 8C, Q1 | API 4F, 7K, 8C, Q1 | API 4F, 7K, 8C, Q1 |
Hydraulic Workover Units – Capacity Ranges (Industry Reference – HRS Series)
Hydraulic workover units are classified by pulling and snubbing capacities. The following capacities are representative of the industry; SOFE provides custom‑engineered units to match specific offshore requirements.
| Model | Max. Pulling Capacity (lbs) | Max. Snubbing Capacity (lbs) | Horsepower | Tubing Size Range | Standard Rotary Torque (ft·lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRS 150 | 150,000 | 66,000 | 230 | 1 – 2-⅞″ | 5,000 |
| HRS 225 | 225,000 | 120,000 | 305 | 1 – 5-½″ | 5,000 |
| HRS 340 | 340,000 | 188,000 | 305 | 1 – 7-⅝″ | 10,000 |
| HRS 460 | 460,000 | 220,000 | 280 | 1 – 8-⅝″ | 10,000 |
| HRS 600 | 600,000 | 260,000 | 380 | 1 – 8-⅝″ | 20,000 |
Offshore Equipment Applications – Where SOFE Workover Units Are Deployed
Fixed Platform Workover – Slot Drilling & Completion Change‑Out
On fixed platforms with multiple well slots in a row, workover units skid from slot to slot, performing ESP replacement, tubing change‑out and zone isolation without demobilising the rig. SOFE's HXJ series units are designed for these high‑density platform configurations, with compact footprints that fit within platform crane reach and deck constraints.
Cantilever Jack‑Up Workover – Platform Adjacent Intervention
Jack‑up rigs with cantilever beams can be positioned adjacent to fixed platforms, allowing workover operations without using platform deck space. This method requires units that can be skidded into position from the cantilever—a configuration SOFE supports through modular skid design.
Live Well Snubbing – Platform Intervention Without Well Kill
When reservoir pressure is high and kill fluids are impractical, hydraulic snubbing units push pipe into and pull pipe out of the well against surface pressure using closed hydraulic jacks and BOP stacks. A modular HWO system has been shown to execute heavy workover operations in space‑constrained offshore environments, with coordinated logistics across vessel and platform teams.
Subsea Well Intervention – Rigless Techniques
In deepwater and subsea completions, intervention is often performed from monohull vessels using riserless or riser‑based workover systems. SOFE has more than 30 years of offshore engineering experience and has produced over 400 sets of large‑scale offshore equipment, including ROV‑compatible subsea well systems and subsea well factory equipment.
Deepwater Semi‑Submersible Support
SOFE's cementing unit package has been successfully operating on the Deep‑water Semisubmersible Drilling Platform (HD‑981), the sole China‑made product of its kind on that platform. This demonstrates SOFE's capability to support deepwater drilling and completion campaigns with integrated equipment packages.
Why Choose SOFE / SJ Petro as Your Offshore Workover Manufacturer?
Over 30 Years of Offshore Engineering – 400+ Sets Delivered
SOFE has more than 30 years of offshore equipment manufacturing experience and has produced more than 400 sets of large‑scale offshore equipment widely used in the Bohai Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea, and exported to North America and Malaysia. This is not theoretical capability—it is field‑proven performance in some of Asia's most active offshore basins.
Full API Certification – 4F, 7K, 8C, 6A, 16C, Q1, Spec 7‑1
All SOFE workover rigs and hydraulic intervention units are designed, manufactured and tested in accordance with API Spec 4F (structures), 7K (drilling equipment), 8C (hoisting equipment), 6A (wellhead), 16C (choke/kill), Q1 (quality management) and Spec 7‑1 (rotary drill stem elements). Complete certification documentation—material test reports, NDT inspection records, pressure test certificates and certificates of conformance—is included with every shipment.
16 Production Lines – Integrated Intervention Ecosystem
SOFE operates 16 production lines with proprietary rights across drill bits & tools, drilling rigs, cementing and fracturing units, steel pipe, coiled tubing units, snubbing units, and high‑pressure fluid control products. When you choose SOFE, you are not limited to the workover rig alone—you gain access to the full well intervention ecosystem: coiled tubing reels, snubbing jacks, cementing packages, downhole motors, fishing tools, PDC bits and HP manifolds.
Global Export Track Record – 40+ Countries
SOFE has exported its products to more than 40 countries and regions, including North and South America, Russia and the Middle East. With 5 subsidiaries in the United States, Japan, Germany, Russia and the UAE, and 8 offices in Brazil and other key markets, SOFE provides local support and spare parts for offshore operators worldwide.
Independent R&D – HXJ Series & Future Capabilities
Since 2019, SOFE has independently developed various offshore workover rigs—HXJ135, HXJ180 and HXJ225—named after their maximum tonnage, which have been delivered to the offshore market successively. Now, SOFE can provide truck‑mounted workover rigs with maximum rated 1,000 horsepower drawworks applicable in various oilfield operating environments at home and abroad. Most recently, the newly developed XJ2750 10,000‑metre truck‑mounted workover rig has entered China's 10,000‑metre‑deep workover era.
Integrated Supply Chain – Sinopec Backing
As a wholly‑owned subsidiary of Sinopec Oilfield Equipment Corporation, SOFE is a China Critical Technological Equipment Nationalization Base and a National Hi‑tech Enterprise. This provides financial stability, supply chain consistency and long‑term engineering support that independent manufacturers cannot match.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What is the difference between a platform workover rig and an HWO hydraulic workover unit?
A: A platform workover rig (such as SOFE's HXJ series) is a skid‑mounted conventional workover unit designed for fixed platform decks. It is used for tubing change‑out, ESP replacement and well maintenance when the well is dead (no surface pressure). An HWO hydraulic workover unit (snubbing unit) is designed for live well operations where surface pressure would otherwise push pipe out of the hole. It uses hydraulic jacks and a BOP stack to push pipe into the well against pressure, enabling interventions without well‑kill operations.
Q2: What are the leading global offshore workover manufacturers?
A: Key manufacturers in the global offshore workover rig industry include Highland Petroleum Equipment, ZPEC, Rg Petro‑machinery, Sinopec Oilfield Equipment (SOFE), INTLEF, Lanzhou LS Heavy Equipment, Drillmec and Highdrilling. SOFE is distinguished by its integrated well‑intervention ecosystem—workover rigs, coiled tubing units, snubbing units, cementing fleets, downhole tools and high‑pressure fluid control products under a single API‑certified quality system.
Q3: What API standards do SOFE offshore workover rigs comply with?
A: SOFE workover rigs are designed and manufactured in accordance with API Spec Q1, 4F, 7K, 8C and RP500, as well as GB3826.1, GB3836.2, GB7258 and SY5202. Full certification documentation—material test reports, NDT inspection records, pressure test certificates and certificates of conformance—is included with every shipment.
Q4: What is the typical pulling capacity range for hydraulic workover units?
A: Hydraulic workover units range from 150,000 lbs pulling capacity up to 600,000 lbs depending on model. Snubbing capacity is typically 40–50% of pulling capacity—for example, an HRS 460 unit has 460,000 lbs pulling capacity and 220,000 lbs snubbing capacity.
Q5: Can SOFE supply a complete offshore workover package including coiled tubing and cementing equipment?
A: Yes. SOFE offers the full well‑intervention ecosystem under one API‑certified quality system: drilling and workover rigs, coiled tubing units, snubbing units, cementing units, fracturing fleets, downhole tools, high‑pressure fluid control products, and steel pipe.
Q6: Have SOFE workover rigs been deployed in international offshore operations?
A: Yes. SOFE has produced more than 400 sets of large‑scale offshore equipment widely used in the Bohai Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea, and exported to North America and Malaysia. SOFE's cementing unit package is the sole China‑made product operating on the Deep‑water Semisubmersible Drilling Platform HD‑981.
Q7: What is the typical lead time for an offshore workover rig order?
A: Lead time depends on rig size, platform configuration and customisation level. Standard HXJ series platform workover rigs: 8–10 months from order confirmation to FOB port shipment. Hydraulic workover / snubbing units: 6–8 months. Custom platform designs with specific deck integration: 10–12 months.
Q8: Does SOFE provide third‑party inspection for offshore workover equipment?
A: Yes. SOFE welcomes third‑party inspection by BV, SGS, DNV, ABS or any certified inspection agency. The company has established a third‑party inspection, testing and calibration service lab with independent legal status, accredited by CNACL.
