LEADING international oil field services company, Expro, has secured a multi-year contract with a leading international oil company for multiphase production testing in Iraq.

The contract will provide non-intrusive multiphase production testing of oil wells in this on shore field.

“This contract award highlights an innovative element of the broad product and service portfolio we offer throughout the region and across the lifecycle of the well,” says Selim Djandji, region director for Middle East North Africa. “Expro is committed to the local communities where we work, including recruitment and training of indigenous work-force – delivering new technology to the Iraq oil and gas industry,” he adds.

Expro will utilise its Sonar metering technology to measure production from the wells. SonarTest leverages Expro’s clamp-on Sonar technology, which enables non-intrusive well production surveillance. It is well suited for high-frequency testing in challenging environments and importantly, significantly reduces potential environmental and safety risks.

“Our small footprint, non-intrusive Sonar technology enables high-frequency, safe, flare less production testing, which is important to the redevelopment of these fields,” says Patrick Curry, Expro Meters general manager.

Expro’s Sonar meters are manufactured in Wallingford, Connecticut and are deployed by Expro crews based in the respective local markets. Following a programme to recruit and train local Iraqi engineers, all of Expro’s field operations for this contract will be carried out by national staff.  Data analysis and technical support are provided centrally by a team of experts in Wallingford. Expro began production testing operations in Middle East in 2012. Since then, Expro has tested over 500 wells in Iraq and over 1,000 wells worldwide with SonarTest.

$2BN ORDER BOOK At THE END  OF ITS 40TH YEAR
Meanwhile, the international oilfield services company, continues to build on its exceptional financial performance by announcing a $2 billion order book for the first time.

This milestone was achieved at the end of Expro’s 40th anniversary year, thanks to a number of contract wins, including almost $500 million in the last quarter alone.

Expro attributes this success due to its market-leading position in deep water well testing and subsea landing string services, the re-emergence of its production systems business and the strengthening of its position in the Gulf of Mexico and Middle East. This is combined with important contributions across its six global regions, the company says in a press release.

The company’s North America order book increased significantly with a number of key large bore subsea completion landing string and offshore well testing contracts for major international and smaller independent companies. As a result of these wins, Expro is making some strategic investments in the North America market, which includes a $2.5 million expansion of its operational facility in Broussard, Louisiana.

The company’s Middle East region grew considerably with stronger positions in Algeria, Saudi Arabia and the Kurdistan region of Iraq, as a result of key land based well testing and early production facility contract wins. These contracts will provide Expro with the opportunity to introduce a range of new technologies, products and services into these Middle East markets.

Expro’s European business received a welcome boost from a number of contract extensions in the North Sea as a result of continued customer recognition of the company’s technology, service quality and track record. These extensions were supplemented by important large bore subsea completion landing string contracts in Azerbaijan and also the UK.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, the company bolstered its position in Ghana and Angola, through additional well test and large bore subsea completion landing string contracts.  It also made significant progress in South East Africa, Chad and a number of other Central West African countries. Across the region, the company now have a number of fully integrated exploration and appraisal well testing contracts, from land to deepwater locations, plus a number of early production facilities that are accelerating first oil production from client fields.

Expro’s business in Asia strengthened throughout the year with new contract wins and extensions in Indonesia, Australia, Brunei and Thailand. The contracts included a range of slickline, well testing, clean-up, production enhancement, fluid sampling and analysis, and clamp-on metering services.

Whilst the Latin America region’s growth remains constant, this is being supported by $5.6 million investment in a new operational base in Macae. This will host the region’s full range of product lines, demonstrating a commitment to expanding operations in this major growth area.

In addition to Broussard and Macae, a further $16.5 million investment is being made in new bases and infrastructure upgrades including; North Africa, Angola, Saudi Arabia, UK, Norway, Azerbaijan, Congo and Alaska.

With solid growth prospects for the oilfield service sector, Mike Jardon, COO, comments on Expro’s achievement: “I am delighted to see Expro’s performance continue in 2014, which is testament to the hard work undertaken across our global regions and product lines. This year has delivered a record year of contract wins and as a result we sit with record order books for our North America, Middle East & North Africa, Europe & CIS and Asia regions, as well as our Well Test and Subsea product lines.

“As a result of our success, we continue to invest nearly $25 million in our global operations bases, ensuring we can deliver the highest levels of service quality, whilst maintaining our reputation for flexibility and responsiveness.

“At the forefront of our operations is our commitment to championing safety, which has allowed us to achieve our strong safety performance.  Key areas of focus have demonstrated clear results, such as reducing wireline breaks by nearly 50 per cent in the past year.

“Our performance, future investment and record order book, all combine to position us well for the next financial year.”

WINS THE ROSPA PRESIDENT’S AWARD 2014
Meanwhile, Expro announced that it has won the President’s Award in the RoSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents) Occupational Health and Safety Awards 2014.

The President’s Award, which recognises 10 consecutive years of Gold Awards, was presented to Expro at the prestigious annual ceremony held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on May 14.

The award recognises Expro’s commitment to continuous improvement in health and safety across its business for the past decade. Through the scheme, which is open to businesses and organisations of all types and sizes from across the UK and overseas, judges consider entrants’ overarching occupational health and safety management systems, including practices such as leadership and workforce involvement.

David Rawlins, RoSPA’s awards manager, says: “The RoSPA Awards encourage the raising of occupational health and safety standards across the board. Organisations that gain recognition for their health and safety management systems, such as Expro, contribute to a collective raising of the bar for other organisations to aspire to, and we offer them our congratulations.”

David Ford, Expro’s group HSEQ manager adds: “Expro is delighted to receive the President’s Award, in recognition of our long term commitment to improving health and safety across the business. Our ‘champion safety’ culture is of the highest priority, which is demonstrated by our business currently recording its lowest Lost Time Incident Frequency rates in eight years.

“Our employees have been instrumental in achieving this key milestone, and for ensuring safety is at the forefront of what we do at Expro.”

The RoSPA Awards are graded at merit, bronze, silver and gold levels. Organisations that maintain high standards in consecutive years can win gold medals, president’s awards and orders of distinction.

In 2010, Expro received a coveted Gold Medal in recognition of six years of continued health and safety performance and commitment. In 2011 and 2012, Expro was also commended in the oil & gas industry sector highlighting its long-term commitment to safety and in 2013, received the RoSPA Scotland Trophy.

Expro’s mission is well flow management.  We provide services and products that measure, improve, control and process flow from high-value oil and gas wells, from exploration and appraisal through to mature field production optimisation and enhancement.

Its vision is to be the market leader in well flow management, using the industry’s best people, to deliver the highest standards of safety, quality and personalised customer service.

It provides a range of solutions across six areas of capability: Exploration and Appraisal Testing; Subsea Safety Systems; Drilling and Completion; Flowback and Clean-up; Production and Well Integrity and Intervention.

Expro’s 40 years of experience and innovative technology empowers the company to offer tailor-made solutions for its customers across the energy sector. With 5,000 employees across 50 countries, Expro offers a truly global service solution.