International oilfield service company Expro has been awarded a multi-year contract from BP for the provision of equipment and services on Block 31 in Angola. As part of the contract, Expro will deliver completion landing string technology which uses a reliable, innovative and novel design to aid completion installation.

The contract covers the delivery of landing strings for use on PSVM (Plutao, Saturno, Venus Matre). PSVM is the first of up to four planned developments covering a programme of work to develop the prolific Block 31 in Angola.

Expro Landing String Assembly (ELSA) technology enables BP to employ the well barrier philosophy successfully implemented on the Greater Plutonia project. This allows the control of isolation valves which eliminates the requirement to set and retrieve wireline plugs providing well commissioning efficiencies. The landing string design will be standard across the programme of work and will meet all the downhole functional requirements on the Block 31 completions.

The ELSA valves will be controlled by Expro’s Express Electro-Hydraulic control system. The control system has been specifically designed for well intervention systems and meets BP’s demanding dual redundant and control monitoring requirements.

The system allows dual bore completions to be deployed using a monobore landing string, allowing the wells to be flow-tested to the rig prior to installing the production trees. The system was designed in Expro’s Aberdeen Engineering Technology Centre and the project will be delivered through the remainder of 2009.

To deliver excellence in operations across the long-term contract, Expro has made further investment in the Angolan delivery infrastructure. As part of a long established workforce plan, Angolan staff have been hired and trained in Expro’s Cape Town training centre of excellence. Investment in facilities, including the building of a new base, will be completed by 2010.

Robin Mair, Expro’s Well Testing and Commissioning director, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded this contract by BP. It further enhances our existing relationship with this important customer through the sharing of knowledge and the introduction of some of Expro’s innovative new technology.

“This contract is a result of our ability to deliver complex, fast-track subsea projects safely to the highest standards. This, combined with our expertise as solution providers, aligns our world-class skills and technology with the needs of our customers.

“This contract is a significant award for Expro. It builds on the delivery performance already achieved on Block 18 in Angola. The engineering, project and local delivery teams have already been established and I am delighted at the progress made so far.”

First offshore operations are expected to commence early in spring 2010.