Expro has completed the first deepwater deployment of its Autonomous iTONG system for a well construction program at the Eni-operated Baleine Field offshore Côte d'Ivoire.
The system first operated in Norwegian waters in 2021.
In late 2023, Expro was awarded the tubular running services contract onboard the Deep Value Driller drillship, which arrived in Côte d'Ivoire.
The current project involves a further expansion of production from the Baleine Field.
iTONG is a tong system that is said to remove the need for personnel to work in the hazardous Red Zone of the rig floor, leading to benefits such as rig time savings and associated reductions in CO2 emissions throughout the construction of a well.
The system automates the connection make-up and break-out of casing and tubing joints, providing torque control from the push of a single button operated from the driller’s cabin, at the same time while enabling full connection make-up validation.
According to Expro, the system onboard the drillship delivered improved efficiency and cost savings, with connection make-up times reduced by 50%, with cost savings estimated at about $200,000 per well.
Park-to-park connection times are now completed in 90 seconds compared to 180 seconds with previous remote technologies, Expro added.
