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Customer challenges
- Expro was commissioned for this inaugural field development of our latest premium connector solutions consisting of the 38” Xtreme3™ Super Duty (SD) and the new 22” XT4™ GT for a deepwater well in the Gulf of Mexico, reaching over 6,600 ft WD and 11,700 ft TD for the 22”
- As the customer had a long-standing relationship with our Tubular Products and Services product line, they were continually looking for Expro to develop new technologies to improve their operations. We had worked with them since 2011 when we first ran our Xtreme3™ connectors
- Their deepwater drilling campaign required 38” pipe and connections for the conductor pipe and 22” pipe and connections for the surface casing in a timely manner with a high service quality and dependability
- Expro was selected as the solution provider of choice due to our advanced technologies and through our exemplary customer service, with our responsiveness to requests/concerns, our ability to meet deadlines and consistently have necessary materials available at a moment’s notice
Expro Excellence
- Expro provided our customer large OD line pipe, premium deepwater connections, and fabrication services for their offshore operations. This solution package included our 38” x 1.50” and 1.188” Xtreme3™ Super Duty (SD) connectors on X-65 pipe and 22” x 1.00” XT4™ GT connectors on X-80 pipe
- Our key differentiator which sets us apart from other service providers is in our track record of running the 38” with our connector line, the integral Double Drive Shoulder (DDS) connectors. This gave our customer trust and confidence in our capabilities to deliver this project
- Our technical knowledge and depth of experience in collaboration with our advanced and reliable products enabled the customer to overcome their operational challenges and eliminated the risk of running new technologies
- Positive environmental impacts due to less rig time for make up and running of the connections without installing anti-rotation keys or removing pad eyes/ lift eyes. Additionally, Xtreme3™ Super Duty (SD) and XT4™ GT connectors are made-up with high makeup torques and backout of the connection is a very minimal risk for dropped casing strings
Value to client
- Expro efficiently delivered, ran and installed the 38” Xtreme3™ Super Duty (SD) with our new 22” XT4™ GT pipe and connectors, which had enhanced capacities and properties, i.e., tension, bending, and internal pressure and sealability testing at elevated temperature—all at minimal additional cost. This clearly illustrates our continued commitment to providing our customers with advanced technological solutions while focusing on their key challenges
- The connection was ran with an ultra-deepwater drillship in water depths of over 6,600 ft and was executed efficiently and without any incident, maintaining full connection integrity even after experiencing unexpected hang-off time of approximately 10 hours on the rotary for the 38” string and nearly 48 hours in the rotary for the 22” string due to rig positioning/adjustments and top drive issues
- Less rig time was required as without the need to install anti-rotation keys during running, resulting in increased efficiency. The rig handling and makeup of the connectors were without any issue or concern, and as expected make-up turns, torques, and shouldering were observed
- For both the 38” and 22” strings, even with additional hang-off time, the operation did not experience any difficulties or unforeseen events running in the hole reaching 11,700 ft TD for the 22”
- Expro’s flexibility, exceptional customer service and our ability to have consistent availability of materials allowed us to deliver in a short time frame from order through to manufacturing and execution
