The global wellhead equipment market size was valued at USD 6.72 billion in 2023. It is estimated to reach USD 9.78 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 4.8% during the forecast period (2024–2032).
Wellhead equipment is a device permanently affixed to the oil and gas well's surface. The wellhead equipment consists of a complete line of wellhead components and parts utilized for drilling and production of oil & gas. This equipment typically connects tubes and casing to an oil or gas pipeline. This installation attaches the casing, seals the well, and suspends the casing strings. The components of wellhead equipment include casing heads, casing spools, tubing head spools, crosses, and tees, among others.
Generally, the assembly of wellhead equipment is called a Christmas tree. These tools, used to suspend the casings and seal the well, can be set up differently depending on the well's pressure, temperature, location, size, and drilling technique. In addition, the wellhead equipment is primarily used to drill the surface of a well in the oil and gas industry. It is manufactured and designed to meet the application-specific requirements and service type.
In the past century, there has been substantial growth in oil exploration and drilling activities worldwide, as a result of advancements in drilling technology and an increase in the demand for fuel for vehicles and other purposes. Additionally, the market expands as the success rate of petroleum extraction increases. The demand for wellhead equipment is fueled by the increased economic competitiveness of the oil exploration, drilling, and service industries, which in turn increases the utilization of wellhead systems.
Several oil corporations and governments are focusing on new exploration and drilling activities for oil and gas in order to meet the increasing global demand for oil and gain a competitive advantage over their rivals. For example, in November 2018, PetroChina, a Chinese oil and gas company, announced its intention to increase oil production in the Northwestern Xinjiang region in 2021. The location is a recently identified oilfield. Furthermore, PetroChina and Sinopec, the two largest oil companies in China, have formed a partnership to investigate and exploit crude oil in the Western regions of the country in order to augment domestic production. In the same vein, Saudi Aramco intended to broaden its international oil and gas exploration in February 2019. The company's objective is to expand its drilling operations abroad in order to compete with major competitors such as Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon Mobil. Market expansion is stimulated by these variables.
In 2018, the average annual price of a barrel of oil increased by approximately fifteen percent. This increase was a result of an increase in production costs as well as political unrest in a country that produces oil. A further point to consider is that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which is comprised of fourteen countries that produce oil, particularly in the Middle East, controls approximately forty percent of the world's oil production and is one of the primary factors that determines the price of oil. Moreover, this association determines the levels of oil production in order to satisfy the demand for crude oil on a global scale. As a result, it has an impact on the price of oil and can cause both decreases and increases in oil production.
As a result of the laws of demand and supply, oil prices are also subject to fluctuations; prices increase when there is a greater demand than there is supply. Additionally, there are ongoing concerns regarding the storage of oil, which has an effect on the amount of investments made in the oil industry, which subsequently contributes to an increase in the price of oil. As a result of all of these factors, oil prices have begun to recover, which has further contributed to the expansion of the global market for wellhead instruments.
Some key raw materials wellhead equipment manufacturers use include iron and other alloys. The manufacturers are vulnerable in the value chain due to the shifting pricing of these raw materials. The key material suppliers are typically large enterprises that have the power to pass on their higher commodity costs which lead to a surge in the costs of the materials, thereby increasing the input prices.
On the buyer's side, manufacturing firms must supply their goods to significant and influential consumer goods corporations, who cannot pass on price increases to end users. Instead, they must use the fear of switching suppliers to maintain supplier compliance. Similarly, fluctuating raw material prices and the unavailability of certain raw materials in certain geographic regions constitute higher costs for architectural hardware manufacturers, which is expected to restrain market growth.
The wellhead equipment is integral and essential part of the wellhead system. The wellhead equipment is an associated accessory required to assemble the wellhead system. These systems are required to control pressure during production and drilling operations. In addition, it connects the surface pressure-control equipment and serves as a point to suspend tubing and casing strings. The advanced technology in the wellhead systems provides reduced life cycle cost and superior reliability for pressure seals and suspension points.
For instance, in March 2019, ABB, a Swiss-Swedish multinational corporation, launched ABB Ability Wellhead Manager, a versatile new cloud-based visualization system for oil & gas operators. Similarly, in August 2017, Australia-based KINETIC and WEFIC collaborated to launch high-end wellheads in Australia. The new feature of wellheads includes nested hanger configurations. The new wellheads can drill without dismantling the blowout preventer (BOP). Therefore, technological developments in the wellhead systems are anticipated to generate lucrative opportunities for market expansion during the forecast period.
| Study Period | 2020-2032 | CAGR | 4.8% |
| Historical Period | 2020-2022 | Forecast Period | 2024-2032 |
| Base Year | 2023 | Base Year Market Size | USD 6.72 billion |
| Forecast Year | 2032 | Forecast Year Market Size | USD 9.78 billion |
| Largest Market | North America | Fastest Growing Market | Asia Pacific |
The global wellhead equipment market is bifurcated based on region into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.
North America is the most significant global wellhead equipment market shareholder and is anticipated to exhibit a CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period. The increase in oil and gas sector investment with the discovery of new oil fields is expected to fuel market growth. The key regions in North America are expected to project an increase in demand for wellhead equipment as there is major oil and gas production along with massive exploration of the same. Moreover, the number of petrochemical companies in the prominent regions of North America is expected to boost the demand for wellhead equipment. Furthermore, increasing investments in North America's oil and gas industry offers lucrative growth opportunities for the market players. For instance, the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers forecasted a 41% growth in the production of oil sands from 2019 to 2035. In September 2019, Shell, one of the major oil and gas companies, invested USD 13 billion in a liquefied natural gas project in Canada. Similarly, in November 2018, major U.S. firms planned to invest USD 2.4 billion in the oil and gas industry of Equatorial Guinea. These firms are set to start drilling around 11 wells, driving the market growth.
Asia-Pacific is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 3.9% over the forecast period. The demand for wellhead equipment is growing, owing to the high rate of oil exploration in countries such as China and Australia. Growth in these countries' oil and gas industries is expected to boost the market's growth. In addition, wellhead equipment manufacturers have been heavily active in R&D to create cutting-edge technology due to lower field production. In August 2017, Australia-based KINETIC and WEFIC collaborated to launch a service facility to promote high-end wellheads in Australia. Many developing nations in the Asia-Pacific region have focused on creating a comprehensive solution for crude oil to obtain a competitive edge in the oil and gas sector. For instance, India invested US$118 billion in oil and gas exploration and establishing the setting up of natural gas infrastructure to meet the needs of oil and gas. In July 2019, China lifted restrictions on foreign investment in its conventional oil and gas upstream to boost resource development.
In Europe, the oil and gas sector growth drives the market growth. The rise in the trend of the redevelopment of mature fields is expected to foster the demand for wellhead systems, which in turn is expected to expedite market growth in this region. An increase in crude field production in the European region due to underwater oil and gas reserve discoveries in the North Sea drives the market growth. Furthermore, the increase in demand for crude oil has been prompting the production and exploration of oil in Europe. Many companies are involved in extensive drilling activities in off-shore and on-shore locations.
In addition, many major oil and gas exploration companies are expanding their business through strategic partnership agreements. Such factors are expected to offer growth opportunities for the market players in the region. For instance, in March 2019, PAO NOVATEK and TOTAL S.A. signed an agreement at the 22nd Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum to participate in the Arctic LNG 2 project. Similarly, in 2018, NOVATEK continued the exploration of the Gydan and Yamal Peninsulas to expand the resource base of LNG projects.
The LAMEA region is studied across Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. The surge in investment in the oil and gas industries and the discovery of new oil fields in Latin America fuels the demand for wellhead equipment in LAMEA. Key nations in the LAMEA region are seen utilizing wellhead equipment in wellhead systems on a large scale in the petrochemical industry, which drives market growth. Moreover, an increase in oil and gas exploration in the Middle East, owing to the expansion of the oil and gas sector, is anticipated to boost market growth shortly. For instance, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have invested more than USD 250 billion in petrochemicals and oil and gas projects in the initial phase.
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The global wellhead equipment market is segmented by type and application.
By Type
The global market is dominated by the casing spools segment, which is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4% during the forecast period. A tubing head is located at the uppermost portion of the wellhead assembly on the casing spool. The tubing string is supported by a load shoulder in this upper section, which is a straight-type bowl. The casing spools are equipped with lock screws that ensure the tubing hanger, which is located in the head section, is securely fastened. The casing string is isolated by a secondary seal in the lower section. The production casing is directly connected to the weld-on tubing head. These spools are available in pressures ranging from over 1,500 psi to 20,000 psi. Additionally, the casing spool manufacturer is anticipated to benefit from lucrative growth opportunities during the forecast period as a result of technological advancements that are designed to enhance drilling efficiency in the oil and gas industry in order to curb costs.
The casing head is a metal flange that is welded to the top of the drive pipe, which is also referred to as the conductor pipe, and is a component of the wellhead system. The casing heads provide a sealing point and attachment to the surface casing. Its advantageous attributes include a straight bore design that is versatile and capable of supporting a maximum load, a 45° landing shoulder that prevents test plugs from wedging under pressure, and a 45° landing shoulder. Furthermore, it is accessible with a nominal bowl of 7-1/16 inches and a production casing of 7-5/8 inches. Moreover, casing heads are a critical component of piping systems in the oil and gas industry, and they are employed for HTHP applications. Furthermore, these casing heads provide support for the tubing string in an oil well by means of an affixed tubing adapter located at the top. It is anticipated that the growth of this segment will be facilitated by the presence of all of these elements.
By Application
The on-shore segment is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.3% during the forecast period and currently holds the largest market share. The term "on-shore" denotes the exploration and production of oil and gas on the mainland, which accounts for 70% of global oil production. The on-shore wellhead equipment market is benefited by the newly discovered oil and gas resources, as the equipment and structures are constructed directly on the soil for drilling and exploration. In addition, in order to satisfy the increasing demand, oil and gas companies are emphasizing the exploration of new crude oil and gas resources. The wellhead equipment is a component of the wellhead system that is installed at the external opening of an oil or gas drilling well. It is essential for the operation of drilling equipment by regulating the pressure at the wellhead. The wellhead equipment is also extensively employed in on-shore applications to ensure the proper pressure sealing of the entire casing.
The term "offshore" denotes the extraction of oil and natural gas from field deposits located beneath the ocean's surface. The adoption of wellhead equipment for offshore has increased as a result of the expansion of underwater drilling activities for oil and gas exploration. The production and exploration activities in offshore underwater areas are increasing as a result of the stabilization and recovery of crude oil prices. The market is expanding due to the increasing reliance on components of pressure-pumping solutions in offshore drilling operations. Furthermore, the demand for offshore wellhead equipment is fueled by the replacement of oil field machinery and components and the redevelopment of mature offshore oil fields. Additionally, the business of wellhead equipment for offshore oil fields is anticipated to experience growth in the coming years due to the rise in the oil and gas industry and the strict laws and regulations governing the use of effective solutions and components.
