Customer challenges
- Marathon awarded Expro a contract to provide conveyance service for modular perforating operations with slickline on the Alba Field, off Equatorial Guinea
- Some of the wells were 14,000ft deep and deviated, as well as underbalanced
Expro Excellence
- Expro’s team determined a new, larger gauge slickline wire would be required which would overcome the challenge of larger gun size and pulling wireline weights never previously attempted
- The very first, production and operation of the largest gauge slickline with a diameter of 0.160” was invented and installed by Expro
- Ran a number of 48ft, 3 3/8” perforating guns on slickline and stacked them in lengths exceeding 1,000ft
- Firing head was run last on the top and the guns, detonated – the same slickline wire retrieved the firing head and guns before the guns deteriorated to a dangerous condition
- Due to presence of CO2 in the reservoir the wire had to be made of a particular alloy (GD 31MO) to reduce corrosion risk, however this created further challenges for the team
- All equipment certified for zone 1 and 2, and work was carried out to UK North Sea standards
- The entire operation was completed quickly - wells were perforated in underbalanced conditions
Value to client
- Innovative approach by Expro provided Marathon with a world-first solution
- Saved Marathon time and money – much quicker than conventional braided line, as well as solving many of the well control issues braided wire might create
- Guns run faster and using less equipment
- Estimated savings of 25% in running costs compared to braided wire method
