Well testing is a key part of the development process in all new deepwater fields, and frontier exploration areas in particular are now quick to employ the technologies and solutions that have been honed in the more established offshore regions of the world.

It is no accident, therefore, that Expro has recently clinched a number of contract awards in emerging areas that play to one of its major strengths, the continued development of new technology to meet customers’ needs.

The international oilfield services company was awarded one contract by Canadian Husky Oil’s China subsidiary to supply a subsea and well testing package for China’s first ever deepwater subsea development while also securing a contract from Noble Energy for specialist well testing and subsea services in the Mediterranean Sea in Israel’s fledgling deepwater province.

The first contract will see Expro supply a subsea and well testing package, including a surface clean-up and flow-back package with the ability to flow and measure high gas rates. The contract represents an industry “first” according to Graham Cheyne, Expro’s subsea sales director. “This is the first deployment of Expro’s large bore electrohydraulic landing string systems in Asia and the first deepwater subsea development in China. This clearly shows our position as deepwater players in China and will … enhance our relationship with our joint-venture company.”

The US $25-million contract came via Expro’s joint venture (JV) with China Oilfield Services (COSL), called CETS. The services will be deployed by the CETS JV, which is based in Shekou, Shenzhen, in South China. This service supports the second stage of Husky Oil China’s pioneering deepwater Liwan gas field subsea development in the South China Sea.

The three-year contract includes a surface clean-up and flow-back package with the ability to flow and measure high gas rates.

Expro officials said the company’s continued support of the JV with leading technology and project planning means that CETS is ideally placed to further support ongoing development in the area.

CETS has installed surface equipment to handle the expected high flow rates while supplying Husky with accurate detailed data for further field appraisal.

Expro’s modular process equipment measures the performance of a well with acute accuracy. These measurements will be used to determine commercial viability as well as to plan potential future completion and production facilities.

The company’s Express and ELSA in-riser electrohydraulic landing string system also will allow the safe installation of all Husky subsea completion operations from the assigned dynamically positioned drilling rig, guaranteeing fast and secure well isolation and system disconnect during the critical well clean-up operations and completion deployment.

Peter Quiatkowski, JV general manager, said, “The joint venture is well equipped to meet the challenge, and this contract is evidence of our capacity to deliver specialist services and provide the most accurate and reliable results.”

China represents a massive future market for the oil and gas sector, both onshore and offshore, but Expro’s other recent contract win offshore Israel also represents a potentially significant new market.

Expro will provide Noble Energy with specialist well testing and subsea services and equipment, including a high flow-rate well testing package and large-bore subsea safety systems. The $27-million contract is for deepwater operations onboard Transocean’s Sedco Express semisubmersible drilling rig for the deepwater Tamar field development and Pride International’s Pride North America semisubmersible drilling rig for an exploration program.

This will be the largest single project ever conducted from Expro’s Continental Europe base. The company also announced that it is a “major expansion” of its geographical area.

Keith Palmer, Expro’s Europe CIS regional director, said, “Expro’s track record in deep water means we are well positioned to move into new markets and bring the benefits of our leading-edge technologies to our customers. This is a significant win for Expro’s Continental Europe team.”