Joint Lab for Advanced Well Completion Technologies

Halliburton and Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) have launched the Next-Generation Energy Xccelerator Joint Lab (NEX Lab℠), a collaborative R&D program focused on advancing and industrializing well completion technologies for the energy sector.

Integrated pathway from research to field deployment
NEX Lab℠ is structured as a S$35 million joint initiative that brings research, engineering, and testing activities into a single program. The objective is to shorten development cycles by integrating design, prototyping, and validation under one coordinated framework, enabling technologies to progress more efficiently from early-stage concepts to field-ready solutions.

The joint lab is supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board and was officially launched by Mr. Alvin Tan, Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade and Industry. The collaboration reflects Singapore’s broader strategy to anchor advanced manufacturing and energy technology development within its local innovation ecosystem.

Focus on well completion technology development
The technical scope of NEX Lab℠ centers on advanced well completion technologies, a critical area in oil and gas operations that directly influences well productivity, operational reliability, and lifecycle costs. By combining Halliburton’s global domain expertise with A*STAR’s applied research capabilities, the lab is intended to support the development, qualification, and scale-up of new tools, materials, and system designs.

Collocating research and validation functions allows early performance data and test results to feed directly back into design iterations. This approach is intended to reduce technical risk prior to field trials and improve the readiness level of technologies entering commercial deployment.

Talent development and supply chain impact
Beyond technology development, the joint lab is positioned as a talent and capability-building platform. The initiative is expected to increase demand for high-value technical roles in areas such as advanced manufacturing, materials engineering, automation, and sensor technologies. By embedding industrial R&D activities locally, the program supports the development of a future-ready engineering and scientific workforce in Singapore.

The lab also aims to contribute to supply chain resilience by helping develop and qualify local suppliers for advanced energy technologies. Strengthening domestic capabilities in precision manufacturing and component validation supports higher-value participation in global energy supply chains.

Building on an established collaboration
Halliburton and A*STAR have collaborated since 2019 through the A*STAR Advanced Remanufacturing and Technology Centre’s industry consortium. During this period, Halliburton invested more than S$2 million in joint R&D projects covering materials and design enhancements, workflow and inspection automation, and sensor development.

NEX Lab℠ formalizes and expands this collaboration into a dedicated structure with a defined commercialization focus, moving beyond individual projects toward a sustained innovation pipeline aligned with industry deployment requirements.

Application context
As the energy industry faces pressure to improve efficiency, reliability, and cost performance, the ability to translate research outcomes into deployable technologies is increasingly critical. Joint industry–research platforms such as NEX Lab℠ address this challenge by aligning applied research, engineering validation, and manufacturing considerations early in the development process.

Within Singapore’s innovation landscape, the initiative illustrates how public–private partnerships can support advanced energy technology development while simultaneously strengthening local talent and industrial ecosystems.