Customer Challenges
- Over the past three years, Expro has partnered with Ecopetrol to execute extended well testing (EWT) operations on two exploration wells - Guamal and Tejón-in Colombia’s CPO-09 block
- These operations were crucial for evaluating the upper and lower T2 reservoir formations and supporting future development planning
- The wells are located in a remote exploration area without infrastructure to connect to a central processing facility. Both wells produce heavy crude oil with 8.1° API gravity under low pressure, requiring artificial lift via submersible pumps and onsite treatment to meet regulatory standards for sale
- To comply with Colombia’s Resolution 40236/2022, operations needed to deliver oil with sediment and water (BS&W) content below 0.5%. This required establishing an on-site treatment process to meet the required specification
- In alignment with Expro’s values, the project was designed for operational excellence, environmental responsibility, and active engagement with the local community
Expro Excellence
- Expro delivered the project through a pre-engineered setup and rigorous planning, leveraging proven processes and high-quality equipment for consistent, high integrity operations
- A local workforce was integrated into operations, trained by Expro to build technical capacity and embed company values, fostering long term community benefits
- Technical complexity was managed by adapting boiler systems to utilize produced gas as a combustion source, enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing emissions
- As operations progressed, the setup was optimized by unifying separator streams, minimizing equipment footprint, and improving cost-effectiveness without compromising performance
- Environmental impact was reduced through solar-powered lighting and rain water reused for steam generation on boilers
Value to Client
- As a result of the collaboration between Ecopetrol and Expro over 632,000 barrels of net crude oil have flowed through Expro’s equipment across flow test periods. What started as a short well test has now developed into an early production facility (EPF). This collaboration has led to reduced costs while maintaining high service quality
- Operations have been continuous and uninterrupted for over three years, with no major rework
- The setup enabled on-site dehydration and direct delivery of crude oil to the sales line, eliminating the need for further treatment by Ecopetrol and simplifying logistics in an area with no CPF access
- Full compliance with environmental regulations was ensured across all phases
- Measurement and fluid handling requirements in accordance with Resolution 40236/2022
- The environmental standards established by Ecopetrol are in accordance with the requirements of the current environmental licensing regulations under Decree 1076 of 2015 (ANL Operating costs were reduced through pump optimization and the use of produced gas for energy generation
- Ecopetrol has recognized the asset as a strategic discovery. The Lorito field is part of the CPO 09 exploration and production block, with a declared recoverable resource potential of 250 million barrels of oil, making it one of Colombia’s most significant finds in the past decade
Contact
For further information, please contact welltesting@expro.com.
